Ten days ago I tried to download my wonderful tee-shirts and the computer was on strike. So I'm trying again today. Hope this time works out.

Tee Shirt Time

About a million years ago I started this blog so I could share some of my card ideas. But even though I have been making tons of cards I just haven't made anything that I absolutely fell in love with...until now. A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning out some papers and ran across a tee shirt I had drawn way back when I was working at ASU. We were decorating our office for Homecoming and decided we would be the whole Sun Devil football stadium complete with gift shop (therefore the tee shirt). I'm notorious for keeping stuff, and this time I'm sure glad I did. Just look at my tee shirt shop now! And the possibilities are just endless.

Hello again. And look how quickly I'm posting again. : ) Well, at least compared to the last few times. I have been working frantically to get my Easter cards done before I leave for Texas; and I'm trying to help granddaughter Courtney get ready for her first Expo show. She is trying so very hard to build up a SU business. So here are 2 cards I made today and I just love how they came out. Both are made from the Easter Blossoms set. The first one with the cute little Easter eggs is made with Wild Wasabi and some coordinating specialty paper that I don't remember the name of and is probably retired, the coordinating colors are Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point and Daffodil Delight, with Daffodil Delight ribbon.

Card number 2 is made using the "inchies" layout idea. I used white, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery and Tangerine Tango cardstock and ink. I also used Night of Navy ink. The background is from Delicate Dots designer paper. I used Night of Navy around the edges and added a sweet little rhinestone to the middle of each egg. Love the look. Thanks for looking.

Oops! I didn't realize I'd been so busy for 8 months that I couldn't get to my blog. But the figures don't lie do they??? I've traveled and seen things I didn't think I'd ever see, made cards, welcomed a new great-grandson, been in several craft fairs, cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, spent New Year's with wonderful friends, watched my granddaughter in the Junior High School National Rodeo, met new friends, bid a few friends a sad good-bye, read a ton of books, even cleaned house a couple of times : ). So on reflection, I guess I have been busy. Now I'm back to stamping again and I want to share some St. Patricks Day and Easter cards I've made before my granddaughter comes to take them away for a show this weekend. Some are truly SU and some are from other companies but with SU product. But I've had a good time and I hope you enjoy.

At the end of June we took a destination vacation to Gallup, NM. Not normally a city I'd choose to visit for a week. But our granddaughter (the beauty in the photo) qualified for the National Finals Junior High School Rodeo that was held there and since we are only 5 hours away...there ain't no way this Memaw is gonna miss seeing her, our daughter, her husband and that cutie pie boy in the picture. The handsome young man in the picture belongs to our other daughter in Wyoming and they surprised me big time by making the trip to Gallup too. I haven't had both my daughters together for 10 years and it was so special for me. I hate to say it but I totally did not recognize Shelley when she came thru the door...but I immediately knew Matthew and my eyes quickly shifted back to Shelley...then I started crying. We had such a good time and it seems like it was over in about a minute, although we were there nearly a week. I can't tell you how proud I am of my girls. They have turned in to such beautiful ladies, wives and moms and have terrific kids to boot. Our son and his family weren't there but I would be remiss if I didn't say how proud I am of him and his beautiful family too. Can't believe my beautiful baby boy is going to be a grandpa for the 2nd time in October. So sorry he's getting so old. :( Anyway, the granddaughter and her partner didn't make it all the way to the finals, but they placed 3rd in the daily go rounds for the ribbon roping. We are very proud of their accomplishment.

Western Wedding

This weekend Shrine friends of ours are getting married in the mountains up by Flagstaff. They found a beautiful meadow and will be married on horseback. So I was commissioned to make appropriate cards. Too much fun. The cake is made from Flourishes "Cake" set; Pacific Point ink; a horse punch and rider stamp that I've had around for awhile. The background is actually a suede piece that I had. The cute little horsey bride and groom are the Charlie Horse series stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps (I just love these cute little horses and so does my rodeo granddaughter). The blue and pink smudges represent the flowers in the meadow. See Charlie's bow tie and Charliene's veil, and notice that she had her hooves done for the ceremony in pink! Last but my favorite is the cowboy and cowgirl. I ordered the set online but can't remember from who. Well, it was fun and I hope you've enjoyed looking. Thanks.

A New Day

Thanks to all the lovely ladies who left comments on my valentines. Didn't realize how much it means until I read my own. So thanks for taking the time. I've been busy since my last post...busy being sick. This is the first of two times a year I suffer from sinuses and this has been a hard one. Thank God for antibotics and rest! I finally got my desk area cleaned off, then can't find a thing I want. Getting ready to start making cards again as I have a booth in April. I have some ideas I'd like to work with but my time is really limited since I'm taking a trip to Nashville the week before my marketplace and my husband seems to think I should be spending weekends with him (don't know what his problem is). And he is traveling on weekends with the Shriners to be in the parades. I had an interesting evening this past Friday. I belong to a group of Shrine ladies that meet once a month for dinner (they are who I'm going to Nashville with) and since our dinner was at Macayo's in downtown Phoenix, seven of us who live in the Mesa/Tempe area decided to meet and ride the new light rail -the Metro- new experience for us all. We researched on line and made visual trips to make sure we could walk the difference. Friday at 5pm, work lets out; but we were okay getting on and during the ride it was full but not crowded. We had a grand time at dinner and nearly everyone in the group was able to be there. We leave about 9:30, walk our two blocks and get on the Metro. It's crowded but there are open seats and one young man got up and that gave us enough for our 7. The next stop and people get on; the following stop more people get on (no one got off) and the next stop filled us up, standing room only, all college (or maybe not so college)students, all going back to Tempe, all having fun, loud, noisy, laughing fun, and not so sturdy on their feet sometimes. Then more people get on. My God, I had no idea that there were actually so many people using the Metro. But how wonderful that they are and enjoying the heck out of it and life. We ALL get off at the same stop in Tempe...the kids head north toward the college and us old folk head south to the parking garage. Someone said "wonder if Mama knows what's happening." My first thought (and this is from experience) "what Mama don't know won't hurt her." Gotta go.

I need to figure out how to get my first information to be first on the day here. I have a note at the end of my valentines but it seems to me it should be first in line. Whatever. At least I did remember how to post a note and scan and post the cards...and after 6 months that's amazing!!! Now my next step will be to learn to post a card to an email to tantalize you all to come look at my blog. Have a happy day today. We are overcast and rainy off and on. But we should be grateful for all this moisture since what we get now usually has to last us the whole year. But we will have to be careful about fires. With all the rain the desert will burst into bloom and be absolutely joyous to see...but when it dries out...that's trouble. Thanks again for looking.

Still alive and stamping

OMG. I couldn't believe it when I found I haven't visited my own blog since July! I've been really busy with so many other projects and all the holidays. But what kind of excuse is that to not post to your own blog. I'm so ashamed (bowing head right now and wringing my hands!). And the computer is in such shock that I not only had to change the batteries in the mouse right now, I had to change the batteries in the keyboard too. Shock and trauma. But I have been crafting and stamping right along all this time so it hasn't been wasted. I made some really lovely Christmas cards (about 100) but sent them all out. They were nice though. Now I'm making Valentine's Day cards and I wanted to share with everyone before selling and mailing. I've used all varieties of stamps from Stampin' Up, Magnolia, Alotta Stamps, Fluffles, Elizabeth Bell and I had so much fun. I think they turned out nice and I hope that you will be inspired. Thanks for stopping by. I promise I won't wait so long to post again.

lottsa cards

here are a bunch of cards I've done for my craft show in August.

2 trips and a funeral

We've been busy, busy. Getting ready to go to the mountains for the weekend and got a call from our dear sweet friend, Kathy, that her husband, John, died. We had been to see him at the hospital a week before and although he wasn't good, he was getting along. Of course, it's never good news when there's cancer involved. Tom had been John's Chief of Staff at the Shrine when John was Potentate in 2003 and we traveled with them for 3 years, having one great big blast. John was 68. We had always talked about traveling together and doing fun stuff when we all retired. Just wasn't meant to be.
We went on to the mountains with heavy hearts but there was really nothing we could do since their family was all here anyway. And we did have a good time. It was a social get-together of one of the Shrine groups...John was a member and we had a little memorial to him.
Tuesday was the viewing and Wednesday was the funeral. It was hard, but his family made it a celebration of his life and it was a great send off and memorial for John. He will be missed.
This weekend past we went to Payson again but just for the day...to another Shrine party. It was cooler than our 116 that we've been having...there was a breeze and if you stayed in the shade it wasn't bad. Certainly couldn't have been outside if you'd been here in the Valley!!!!!
Now we are getting ready to go further on north towards Flagstaff to Munds Park for this weekend. Should be a little cooler there than Payson. We are staying with friends there and their cabin has the most wonderful back porch that looks out on to the forest and gets the best breezes I've ever had. Our bedroom there has cross ventilation and with the doors open at night it makes for wonderful sleeping. Before we leave on Friday we are going to a birthday celebration for the mother of one of our friends. She is turning 100. Isn't that just amazing. She is very alert and active, although she is in a wheel chair now. Her favorite color is purple so I made her a card with a purple flower on it. I've got lots of cards I will be downloading so be watching. See ya.

I made this card today...had 7 thinking of you cards to do for ailing friends. Another cute cowboy...guess I just have a thing for guys in denim jeans and boots. Now, at 70, hubby isn't that guy anymore, but he still has a cute butt; well, at least I think so.

I've been making cards for a craft show in August and this is one of the "guy" ones I came up with. Isn't he cute. A friend gave me the stamp and I just love it; reminds me of my youngest grandson who's a little 4 year-old cowboy.

Here is the card I made for our son's in-laws for their 50th wedding anniversary today. Congratulations Art and JoAnne.

Well, lookie here...I'm back and it's not been a month yet! Thanks for the nice comments on my cards...I just have so much fun with them and it's neat to share. Yesterday was Father's Day. So, per tradition, DH did the cooking. : ) We had grilled chicken, salad, baked potato and corn on the cob. He does a good job, bless his heart. And all that after just coming back from Denver. The kids all called him for Father's Day so I got to talk longer. Of course. Found out that my two youngest granddaughters, age 13, have gone to camp...one to Girl Scout camp and the other to roping camp. Yes, there's a real honest go goodness cowgirl in the family. She just completed the state hs rodeo the first of June and didn't do too bad. Not as well as we always wish for but we're really proud of her. Lots don't even make it to the state finals and she did, in 3 catagories: barrels, poles and calf tying. Can't wait to see how our girl does at Girl Scout camp. I think this might be her first year to attend. But she does enjoy being in Scouts. Going out tomorrow to lunch with a friend. She got married recently and I made her a scrapbook with the pictures I took so she will have a surprise tomorrow. I thought it turned out really cute. She makes jewelry and it is just beautiful and she does really well. She will be leaving next week for San Antonio for Shrine Imperial. She has good sales among the Shrine women all over the US. Well, summer has made it to Arizona. It didn't just move in gently either...it jumped out, slapped us in the face, laughing hysterically, saying "Gotcha!" as it went from 97 yesterday to 105 today. Yuck, yuck, yuck!! Think we've seen the last of the 90's for awhile. But Spring lasted a long time this year. After our 2 weeks of 100 + in May, June has been wonderful, breezy and Spring-like. It's over. Gotta go. Dishes, then supper, then play with cards. Or maybe: play with cards, dishes, play, supper, play...hmmm.

This turned in to my favorite. I pieced her robe, from scraps. The background is scraps I had from a wedding card. The green ribbon matches her cup which matches a design in her robe. This is me in the morning, sans coffee.

Goodluckabella. I made 2. I need all the luck I can get.

Ah, jammybella; such a cutie with her teddy bear. My bear is golden and I got him when I was 3 and had to have my tonsils out in the hospital...at Christmas time. My daddy said Santa sent him to me for being so good. And I could see Santa on the street corner from my hospital bed. That teddy bear went thru college with me!

In honor of Father's Day I used a swap image and hoped he would stay in the greens, not get into the sand trap!