4 Years Ago Today!

Four years ago today, these two little miracles came into my life:


They endured a great deal the first two months of their precious lives, but they have grown and flourished and become the two wonderful individuals you see here:


We celebrated by going to the Butterfly Pavillion and then having lunch across the way. A grand time was had by all! Here are the cards I made them for their birthday:



I pulled just a couple of the pix I took today - have I told you how much I LOVE MY CAMERA! I'm still learning, but it is sooooo much fun! Thanks for indulging me:

Thanks for visiting today. I really do appreciate all of you and all the wonderful encouraging comments that you leave! So far, only one entry for the blog candy and although I will be delighted to send the whole kit-and-kaboodle to her (she's a total gem), some competition would have been nice. It's not too late and it is for a really good cause!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Okay - finally - blog candy

It's almost exactly a month late, but here's my celebration blog candy for my 2 year blogoversary!

I'm afraid that this will have to be a strictly North America prize as it is just too heavy to ship off the continent. So sorry about that to all my pals outside North America, but I hope you can understand.

I've also struggled to come up with something to make this more interesting than just leave a comment, blah, blah, blah. I think I'd like to make this a sketch challenge and add the following conditions.

• Make a Valentine's card using the sketch - actually make 5-10 (or more) cards (they don't all have to follow the sketch) and then ...

• Mail those cards to Pat Adams (The Rubbermaid) for her Valentines for Children's Hospital drive. She needs the cards by February 8 and I am going to trust you on this part of the challenge. Pat is a wonderful person as well as a very talented and creative lady. She works very hard to put this together every year and it is for a very good cause. Click HERE to go to Pat's blog and find out how to get your cards to her.

Here's the sketch:

Mr. Linky was giving me fits, so I have removed him. Instead, just send me a link to your cards in your comment so I can check them out! Thanks so much. Also, anyone know of a good tutorial on how to make Mr. Linky work properly? I have a platinum subscription and can't make heads or tails of the options. Yikes! I don't know if had something to do with the date on this post changing midstream or what, but anyway. Just put a link in your comment and we'll take it from there!

I hope this sounds like fun to you. It is my hope that it can be both fun and also give some Valentine cheer to some kids spending Valentine's Day in the hospital. You can get more information on Pat's drive by clicking HERE.

Thanks so much for visiting. This post will stay at the top until February 5 when I will use Random.org to select the winner. Like I said before, I'm putting you on the honor system and trusting that you will fully complete the challenge and not just make one card and not do anything more. I think this is a nice candy package and hope you feel it's worth a little bit of effort for a chance to win.

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

No cards tonight, but ...

Doesn't this look like trouble waiting to happen:

This is our youngest grandson and his new puppy. He has just learned how to walk and is just too cute. Too tired to make cards tonight, but am going to have to get my behind in gear over the weekend. The twins (brother/sister to this little guy) turn 4 on Sunday and am hoping the weather is nice and we can do something FUN! I have an SU Regional coming up next weekend and I want to make some swaps for that and then a downline meeting the following week that I will also need some swaps for and of course there's Pat's Valentine card drive to finish up, and .... and ... and ... you know, I am NEVER bored! Ain't life just grand!

Thanks for visiting today and indulging my little grandma moment.

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

January Christmas Card and a Breath of Spring

Well, Tracey is hosting her monthly Christmas card challenge again this year and I had such fun doing it last year, I'm going to give it a shot this year too. It was so great to have all those cards all done and ready to go out the door in December! The challenge this month was to make an easel card. Here's mine:

The image is from Prairie Fairy and I colored him with colored pencils and oms. Because it is so hard to get a really red pencil, I colored the bird with a red marker though. The checked paper is actually a background stamp - I love it - I can make it match my cardstock exactly! Card base is Pacific Point and contrast color is Real Red and the same colors on the ribbon.

Look what I found blooming in my dining room this morning!


I have two hibiscus plants in the dining room for the winter and this red one just keeps blooming and blooming. The yellow one has lots of foilage, but so far no blooms. Both are anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring when they can once again enjoy the fresh air and sun on the front porch.

Thanks for visiting today!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Are you getting tired of them yet?

More Valentines! I want to be able to send Pat about 50 and I only have half that done so I gotta keep going, and going, and going - just call me bunny!





Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to check out the blogoversary blog candy sketch challenge. The competition is wide open - seems like not too many want to work for their candy - better chances for those who do though!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

More Valentines!

I have two Valentine's projects that I am working on, so you'll have to excuse the lack of different kinds of cards for the next little bit. All have to be out by next week, one batch (my Lime Light Design Team project) will go out tomorrow! YAY!

Here's some more:








Thanks so much for visiting, and don't forget to check out the blogoversary blog candy sketch challenge.

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

New Challenge at Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog

Well it's time for a new challenge over at the Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog! This time it's a color challenge posed by dt member Linda! The colors to use are pink, lemon, green and plum. Here's my card:


We are debuting projects by our five new design team members so be sure to hop over and check them out. We are all very excited to have these very talented ladies on board.

Thanks for visiting today and please make sure to check out my Blogoversary Blog Candy challenge post to find out how you can enter for a chance to win some cool candy!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Kaboodle Doodle Sneak Peek

Tomorrow a new challenge will be posted on the Kaboodle Doodles Challenge Blog. It is a fun one again this week and here's a little sneak peek at my card:

Be sure to stop by tomorrow and check out all the great projects by our 5 new design team members!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

EONAC2

It's another Everything Old is New Again challenge. The challenge was to dust off an old background stamp and use it as the focus of the card. No dp either! I decided to to a CAS on this one as well - just one layer! Here it is:

French Script was one of the very first background stamps I ever owned and the image stamp is from an old set from SU in 2006 that I love and just never dig out often enough! The sentiment is Hero Arts. The card base is Naturals Ivory stamped with Bordering Blue. The little image square is Bordering Blue on Bordering Blue with Basic Black for the sentiment. Hop on over to Allison's blog and check it out!

The big birthday bash is this afternoon and I really think dh is going to enjoy himself. Kids, spouses and grandkids - what could be better! We had a quiet evening at home last night. He decided that rather than fight the Friday night crowds, he wanted to have some crab legs and watch a little tv. I picked up about 4 pounds of crab legs (on sale for $7.99/pound - WOW) and we had a very enjoyable evening.

Thanks for visiting today. I'll have a sneaky peek at my card for the next Kaboodle Doodle challenge which debuts on Monday and whatever else I manage to get together by then! Added a few more goodies to the blog candy stash and hopefully will have a slideshow for you tomorrow along with the challenge to win it!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Happy Birthday to my DDH!

It is my Definitely Darling Husband's birthday today. He doesn't read my blog but I'll say Happy Birthday Dear to him here anyway. I made him a couple of cards that he'll get spread throughout the day today and then I'm going to make him another one to give him at the bash I'm throwing for him at Buca de Beppo with all the kids and grandkids, etc. tomorrow.




I saw this card and just loved the sentiment. Not having the stamp, I resorted to the old computer trick and voila card #2 was born!! The bottom card is my first attempt at creating an image from separate png files using Adobe - thanks to Mochamama for the inspiration on this one (and so much else). The top one is just bits and pieces. I loved the dp and put it through one of my new Asian embossing folders.

I have not spaced out the blogoversary candy (even tho it's about a month overdue) and hopefully this weekend I'll get some pictures and figure out if I'm going to do something besides count comments. I thought about having a sketch challenge and letting DH pick his fave. I'm going to have to close it to non-North American folks because the box will be big and heavy and shipping overseas will be a bit too much. I have been adding stuff as the weeks have gone by and it's a pretty cool stash of stuff. Watch for a slideshow tomorrow or Sunday.

New challenge coming up on Kaboodle Doodle on Monday and we're debuting all the new dt members so be sure to check that out too! I'll have a bit of a sneaky peak at that this weekend too.

Allison has posted a new challenge for Everything Old is New Again and it's a doozie - be sure to check it out and play along. I'll have an entry for that this weekend too!

Going to be a busy, busy weekend - again! The weather looks to be just right for staying indoors - cold, rain, snow - love it!

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Hybrids

As most of you know, I am a big fan of pcCrafter's digital images. I just love em! Here's a card I made using one of the cute kitty images. I combined it with a sentiment stamp from SU, some shiny heart brads and I made the background using color on color (Regal Rose to be exact) with my P is for Paw wheel - also from SU. I deckle cut the image out and mounted it on my fave brown these days Soft Suede.

Thanks so much for visiting. DH's birthday (it's a biggie - 66) is tomorrow and I haven't made his card yet! YIKES! Better get busy.

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Another Valentine

I'm on a Valentine's kick - surprise, surprise. I am making some cards for a couple of projects. One of these projects you too could get involved in! My bloggy buddy Pat (The Rubber Maid) is holding her annual valentines for kids drive. This wonderful lady collects cards that get distributed to children in hospitals for Valentine's Day. She needs all cards by Feb. 8 - visit her blog to get all the details on how to participate in this most worthy event. I encourage all of you to get involved! Here's another of my cards:


I'm loving this houndstooth paper! It's from a dp set called Autumn Meadows which was in the Holiday Mini - so of course I can't get anymore! Sad, sad, sad.

Thanks for visiting today, and please do go visit Pat and find out all the deets on her Valentine card drive for kids!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

You have GOT to check these out!

New embossing folders from Tim Holtz! WOWZA these are just fraught with possibilities. I hate this time of year though, CHA sneak peeks that make you crazy because you can't get any of these choice morsels until after the show!





Hopefully, I will be back later with some more creative things to share!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Valentine's

I was just playing around with my new MS punch and some scraps and fun buttons and here's what I came up with:


I also had a make and take from last week's meeting that was unfinished, so I finished it up:

Back to work tomorrow, exhausted from having grandchildren here today - good exhausted, but definitely ready for bed! Thanks for visiting!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Using my coloring class images

I needed a thank you card for someone special and decided to use one of the images that I colored in our coloring class last Sunday. Here's my card:



I was very happy that she liked her card! I still have two more images to put to use - such fun!

Thanks for visiting today!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

It's LeAnne's Fault!

Earlier this week while visiting LeAnne's fabulous blog (you really, really need to check her out) I saw this gorgeous card. She offered up a link to The Graphics Fairy blog and I was a goner. This marvelous gal has put up all kinds, and I mean ALL kinds of wonderful vintage images and get this - they are free! There's now a linked blinkie on the side that you can click and go check this blog out. I spent way too much time immersing myself in the great collection she has put together and needless to say, picked up a couple of gems for myself. Here's one that I thought fitting for the season.


Thanks so much LeAnne for sending me to visit - a trip well worth the time!







XXXOOO




~chris


A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Everything Old Is New Again!!!!

About a week ago, Sue posted a card with a long forgotten stamp set. Allison commented that there should be a challenge where we all create a card with a stamp/stamp set that we would first have to blow the dust off due to lack of use. Sue jumped on the suggestion and now, with the help of some other PSFs, a group of us are hosting the "Everything Old is New Again" challenge.

Want to Join Us? (Of course you do!)

All you have to do is create a card with a stamp set that hasn't seen the light of day for some time. Then, link it up at Allison's blog by Friday, January 22nd at midnight (MDT) and you will be entered to win a $25 gift card to Michael's (thanks to Sue!). If you are looking for some inspiration, have a quick turn through these creations offered up by some great gals:

Allison (http://stampinwhenican.blogspot.com/)
Susie (http://berkerblog.blogspot.com/)
Nancy (http://www.nancyscreativemess.blogspot.com/)
Sue (http://suesstampingstuff.blogspot.com/)
Tina (http://woodedviews.blogspot.com/)
Tracy (http://tracyshappyplace.blogspot.com/)

Come on now, you know you want to play along and all those wonderful old stamp sets are calling to you - can't you hear them - we miss you, come pick us up, dust us off and give us a little lovin' - PLEASE!

Here's mine:


Like most folks, I struggle with masculine cards. I needed a birthday card for a special co-worker. This stamp is from a 90's set called Feathered Friends from SU. I initially got it for the cute baby image in it, but these little birds on a branch are also really cute (but hopefully not too cute for a guy card). The card base is Soft Suede and the dp is from SU and I can't remember the name of it. The accent color is one of my fave blues - Not Quite Navy. The ribbon is the Soft Suede dotted ribbon turned over with some hodge podge hardware added. I hope he likes it!

Thanks for visiting today and be sure to hop on over to the other gals' blogs and see their wonderful creations making something old - new again!

~chris

Remember, don't post a link here on my blog. You need to go to Allison's blog to post it.

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Downline Meeting Slideshow

Here's the swaps and make and takes from today's meeting - enjoy! We had a blast and everyone is very excited about the upcoming half-day regional coming to Colorado!

Thanks for visiting!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Swap card!

Well, today is our meeting and you've already seen my make and take. Here's the card I made to swap (come back later today for a little slideshow of everyone else's cards).


Tomorrow I will have a special post - a challenge I'm sure you'll want to get in on - so please be sure to come visit!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Kaboodle Doodle Project

Our project for the Kaboodle Doodle challenge this round is - anything but a card! Here's my entry:


The papers featured here are in the new paper pack that Andrea (the Kaboodle Doodle lady) just put out. See the blog for more information. The card base is Real Red, the sentiment is from SU.

This is going to be a very quick post as I have been totally annihilated by my grandchildren. Someone needs to make a pill that will give you an energy burst that lasts at least three hours when you are being visited by your grandchildren. They are such darlings though, that I'll put up with being wiped out!

Thanks for visiting - see you tomorrow!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Coloring Class

Well today was the day for the coloring class at my house. Here's some photos of the girls in action - I think we all had fun, I know I certainly did. I only wish I had it under control enough to get pictures of everyone's work instead of just two of us. I'll do better next time!

The calm before the storm:

Let's get to work!

XSDDL* Lorena and Sabrina hard at work!

Carol was having a good time for sure!

Diane is very intent on getting those flowers just right!

By Sabrina:

Mine - check it out Curt - a HOUSE MOUSE:

Thanks for visiting. It' is going to be a busy week, and I hope to get some things done that have been sitting on the back burner for way too long. Hang in there with me and you'll see!

~chris

*Extra Special Darling Daughter-in-Law

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.

Possible Make & Take

Our stamping group has a meeting this week and I will be doing a make and take project. I wanted to use some of the stuff from the new SU Occasions Mini Catalog. Here's my first try:


I used the new pinking hearts border punch and the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set along with a sentiment from Well Scripted set. Card base is Kraft with some Real Red.

Once my mess was cleaned up this morning I was able to get some work done! I made a birthday card for my dad (it's going to be late as usual) and I'll show you that one a little later in the week.

I also made a project for this coming week's Kaboodle Doodle challenge. Here's a little sneaky peek at that!

Thanks for visiting. I sure am hoping to put some sense and order back into my life really soon. Some of the stamping gals are coming tomorrow to color with me. My Monday night stampers have been put on hold temporarily in order to watch the kidlets, but that will hopefully get back on track one of these days too! I appreciate your patience and you hanging in there with me through all this chaos!

~chris

A Proud member of The Lime Light
Come visit us and see what we've been up to.
Design Team Member - Kaboodle Doodles
If you have any questions about techniques or materials used in the work displayed on this blog, feel free to use the email link on the left and I will gladly answer your questions.