Fa La La La La La & Eli The Turtle

Hi everyone. As promised, I am back with more cuteness from Purple Onion Design A Charming Winter collection.

Actually, on this card I combined some stamp from previous releases with the new ones. I love Icicles the polar bear, so I thought he'd be a good companion for Walter the penguin. :)

What a sweet scene, right? I think one of this day I need to make a long card and create a scene with a bunch of POD cute critters. So, did you check all 16 images from this new release? I am curious to see which one is your favorite.

I am entering this card to Simon Says Stamp anything goes challenge.

Speaking about cuties, of course I have to show off Eli for Halloween! This was from last year. We scored some fab costume at Petco after Halloween sale and this turtle one was one of them.

Hah... If you wonder what he's looking at, he's looking at a treat on my hand while hubby busy taking his pics! Of course, as soon as the treat gone, he was ready to take off the costume. The problem with stuffed costume like this, both, Eli and Abby thought it's stuff animal to chew on!!

My boy makes me smile all the time. I hope his cute pics makes you smile as well. 

By the way, I also want to do quick update on the card drive. So far, I have received close to 700 cards at my end. Every year, I never know how many cards we'll receive.  I am hoping this year we'll break our record can cover more nursing homes. I just can't thank you all enough for sending your beautiful creations.

Well,that's all for me right now. Hope you have a fab Friday and happy Halloween!

A Charming Winter Release

Yay! It's finally here. Time to unveil the 16 new stamps from Purple Onion Designs/Stacey Yacula A Charming Winter collection. This collection is sure to melt your heart. When I saw the images that we get to work with, I was literally squealing with delight. So much cuteness. Sigh...I love Stacey's designs so much.

Let's get on with it, shall we. First up, is this card using the new Cocoa Stand & Louis.

Isn't Louis just adorable? I had so much fun creating this scene. That's what I love about POD stamps. Most of the stamps work so well together to create a wonderful scene.

I was so inspired when working with these stamps, that all my cards for these releases were done in 1 weekend. Here's another winter wonderland scene I created using Grace and Snow Cabin.

For this card, I combine water-coloring with distress marker & Copic coloring. And for added interest (although it's hard to see on the pic), I covered the snow on the cabin roof with glitters. Can't go wrong with some sparkly.

Now, there is a introductory set price for the stamps. The entire 16 stamp collection plus 3 sentiments (wishing you a wonderful holiday season, warm wishes and merry & bright) can be purchased for $75. This special price is only available for 1 week, from now till Wednesday, November 5, 2014. 

I know that my team mates have created some amazing samples and I can't wait to check out their creations. Check out Purple Onion Designs blog for more eye candy from this release.

Thank you for swinging by here and I hope you'll love this new releases as much as I do. I'll be sharing  more cards from this collection through out this week.

Oh yeah... psst... 

By the way, today is also my day at A Jillian Vance Design. I am sharing an elegant Christmas card. Here's a sneak peek of the card. To see the full card please go to AJVD.

I Believe In Pink

Today we have a new challenge at Riley & Company. This time the theme is monochromatic pink in honor of breast cancer month.

And, I immediately thought of this quote by Audrey Hepburn, which is one of my favorite Riley & Company stamp.

I love this quote. I don't think this card need much embellishment. I just fussy cut a flower from a patterned paper and that's it. Keep it simple. :)

If you'd like to play along with the challenge please go to Riley & Company blog for details. Sorry for the su per short post. Work is keeping me running like crazy. Have a fab Tuesday!

i {heart} papers 6th Birthday

Woot... woot... i {heart} papers is turning 6 and we're celebrating with 6 days of saving. Use the code below to save 25% off your entire purchase!

Trying to decide what to purchase? Well, one of my new favorite is the latest Wplus9 Stag Trio dies and Hand Lettered Holiday dies & stamp set.

For this card, I combined the dies with Chickaniddy Jolly Good 6x6 paper pad and My Mind's Eye Record It! enamel dots. I stick to the simple design as you know with Christmas cards easy and quick is the main key. :)

Also, I want to mention a quick update. Now, Caring Hearts Card Drive also have a volunteer for Australia side. If you're in Australia and want to participate please send your cards to:

Linda Langes

℅ Gilston State School

588 Worongary Rd

GILSTON  QLD  4211

This card drive is always evolving and I am glad that this card drive inspire others to do the same in their country. As always, detail of the card drive can be found simply by clicking on Caring Hearts bade on the top left side corner of my blog. 

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Purple Onion Designs Giveaway

Hi all. Are you a Purple Onion Designs fans? If you are... you're in luck! Stacey Yacula is coming out with a new collection called A Charming Winter consist of 16 new stamps.

And.... to celebrate, Purple Onion Designs is doing a giveaway. Check out all the details HERE or simply click on the image below.

Check it out and you could be the lucky one to win the entire collection. The giveaways is running now till midnight est on Sunday, October 26, 2014. Winner will be announce on October 27, 2014. Good luck!

Ollie, A Year Later

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my baby girl, Ollie went across the rainbow bridge. And, yes, we still miss her. There's time where hubby and I would reminisce about her.

Ollie was my first dog that really mine. I grew up with dogs and when I decided to have a dog, I always know I wanted a pug. I don't know why, I just know I want pug. Never even own one. I did my research, learn about them as much as I can. I wanted to be a responsible dog owner as I view having a dog as a lifetime commitment.

With her, I learned about being a mom. From cleaning up pee, poop, butt, taking care of her when she's sick, etc. Trust me, I was a squeamish girl when it came to cleaning up nasty stuff. You should see my face when I had to pick up poop the first time. LOL. Soon, I didn't even blink an eye. ;)

3 years after I got Ollie, I got Milo. My 2 pugs save my life. I went through some dark period and the thing that keep me going was my pugs. They were my life line. Sadly, I lost Milo when he ran away and to this day it was one regret in my life. I failed at keeping him safe. My heart still aching every time I think of him.

Losing him, definitely make me even more protective of Ollie and all my dogs that come after Milo. Ollie was feisty, bossy, loving. She was my strong girl. Late 2012 Ollie started having some health issue, but her tail still wagging and full of life.

By October 2013, she was getting worse and we finally came to the point where we had to make that decision that none of us as animal lover want to make. I prayed as we let her go that Milo, Hank, Nick, Becky, Barney all the dogs that our family used to have were welcoming her and keeping her company. I like to think my dad is waiting for her as well and maybe now she's keeping him company.

In remembrance of Ollie, I want to share this card.

Ollie, you'll always be in our hearts. Each dog in our life has special spot in my heart. I hope she knows how much I miss and love her. A year later and you're still my baby girl, Ollie. Always...

Joy To The World

This past weekend was definitely a creative weekend for me. On Saturday, I visited my cousin to help her with a couple Halloween projects for boys. She found a fun project on Pinterest to create wall decor using the boys stamped hand and feet on canvas. My nephews are so adorable. They sit there sweetly while I painted their feet and hand. Sigh... I wish they don't grow up so fast. For now, I am enjoying the fact that they let me do stuff to their hand and feet for creative purpose. Hah... :)

Then  the rest of the weekend pretty much working on submission and DT projects. Came Sunday evening, I was like, what... the weekend already over?! And, I feel like I didn't even get to accomplish as much as I want.

Anyway, one of the card I finished was this holiday card.

Supplies: WPlus9 Woodland Wreaths, Hand Lettered Holiday
Dies: Wplus9 Stag Trio
Pigment ink pad: Avery Elle Sea Glass

I love the way the background turned out for this card. The colors are so pretty. Mixing a dark purple with the dark blue really make the dark blue pop. This card would be great for mass producing. It's pretty quick & simple to make.

By the way, packages for Caring Hearts Card Drive already start to rolling in. Woohoo... you all totally rock. One of the girl shipped 126 cards!! I am so thrilled and grateful for your support. And, yes, my mailman already asked me what's going on and joked that he has to work over time to get my boxes delivered on time. :)

Can't wait to see how many packages coming this week. Have a blessed week everyone!

Riley & Friend

* For Caring Hearts Card Drive Details please click HERE or the badge on the left. *

Yay, for cooler weather. Today's weather is simply gorgeous on our neck of the wood. Yes, sadly I can't enjoy it much as I am stuck inside my office. Crossing fingers that the weather stay gorgeous till the weekend, so I can totally enjoy it.

Well, today I am back with a Riley card to share. Actually, the new challenge is supposed to be Halloween theme, but I don't have any Riley & Company Halloween related stamp. So, I decided to do winter one. Besides, who says you can't dress up as if it's winter for Halloween? I know, I know.. I am stretching it. ;)

To check out and join the challenge please go to Riley & Company blog. That's it for me today. Hope you have a beautiful day!

Pink Power Blog Hop

Hi all and welcome to Pink Power blog hop. You should have arrive here from the blog of one of my favorite card maker, Julie Ebersole.

Chaitali from Cuts, Crop & Creativity has rounded up some of her crafty friends to help spread breast cancer awareness. This is a cause close to her heart after her mom was diagnosed with it earlier this year. She designed the Pink Power set for her mom with lots of love. And, she's sponsoring this hop by providing us with this set. We also have some of the Verve DT playing along.

When I first saw this set, it made me think of my aunt Jannie who passed away a few years ago from BC. She's like a sister to my mom. I have to admit this is the kind of card that you wish you never have to send. 

I keep the design simple. I want to capture the quiet elegant, bravery that many of the women showed when facing this disease.

I also want to mention that if you do make card for BC month, please consider to participate in SCS Hope You Can Cling To event and send in your cards. Simply click on the link to find all the details of this event.

My hope is that none of our family have to face this. And for those who has family member or friends facing this, I pray for strength and healing. From here please hop on over to my talented friend, Stacey.

Chaitali

Jennifer

Amy

Julie

Vera <-- you are here

Stacey

Catherine

Julee

Virginia

Amber

Maureen

Lydia

Smile

* For Caring Hearts Card Drive Details please click HERE or the badge on the left. *

TGIF! I'm ready for the weekend. The weather been so gorgeous here, that it'll be nice to spend some time outdoor instead inside in the office. I think the dogs would enjoy the extra time running around outside.

I also been slacking in my card making. You know, now & then it's nice to not to let it rule my life. As much as I love my hobby, it's always nice to find balance. Enjoy life, do other stuff that you love. But, last night, after finish watching Grey's Anatomy, I played a little bit and made this girly card for Simon Says Stamp watercolor challenge.

Supplies: Dear Lizzy Daydreamer paper pad, Wplus9 Pretty Peonies set
& dies, Doodlebug Sprinkles Bubblegum

I used to not attracted to yellow before, but more and more I find myself liking the color. I guess I love the cheerfulness it represent. I even bought shoes in yellow. I try not to buy black shoes unless I have to. The older I get, the more I stray from being too conventional. I choose to be more colorful, in a good, happy way of course. Hah... I am rambling, aren't I?

Okay, I stop here before I rambling even more. ;)

POD Hi There

* For Caring Hearts Card Drive Details please click HERE or the badge on the left. *

So,  a couple weeks ago I officially joining Purple Onion Designs team. And, I just want to share this fun card I made. POD already showcasing this card on their blog, but I haven't share it here. :)

It seems like I am loving the bright deep blue at the moment. That background is from Heidi Swapp. Love, love, love her stuff! Behind the scene, POD are working on Stacey Yacula's holiday stamp releases and I can't wait to see what they come up with. All I know for sure, they're going to be cute!!

BTW, have you start working on your holiday cards, yet? Don't forget about Caring Hearts Card Drive that's going on right now. Did you see all the amazing prizes we have? Check them out if you haven't seen them.

Oh yes... anyone a fans of The Voice & The Blacklist? Yeah, they're my reason why I can't craft on Monday evening. Hah... I am addicted to these 2 shows. The Voice is such a make you feel good kind of show. I like positive show and show that make me laugh. Gotta love Adam Levine & Blake's bromance. What's your fall favorite show? 

Well, that's all the chatter from me for now. Time to go to work! See ya....

You Bring Me So Much Joy

So, did you all have lots of fun celebrating WCMD the day before? I sure enjoyed browsing all the blogs and finding all kind of inspirations. So many awesome projects out there and lots of fun challenges as well.

I made today's card based on 2 challenge. The first one is Moxie Fab WCMD Challenge. Here's the inspiration pic:

I was inspired by the colors on the clock. Then the second challenge is Butterfly Reflections Inc. sketch challenge and here's  the result:

Stamps: Wplus9 Flora & Fauna 2, Technique Tuesday Labels by Ali Edwards,
Dies: Wplus9 Flora &Fauna 2, Fanciful Feathers

In making the stripe border, I get to used a  few of my paper scraps to make this card. Yay... And, no it didn't really decrease my scrap stash. I have way too many scraps! I really need to sort & clean my stash.

But, not today as today I am celebrating my hubby's birthday. My other half is turning 45 and I have to do a shout out for him.

So, happy birthday to my dear hubby, the one person besides my family who makes me feel so loved. The guy who can always surprise me by suddenly burst out rapping to Run DMC. Yes, my blue eyes Michigan boy loves rap and he knows their song by heart. I still shake my head every time he does this, because if you have met him, you  just wouldn't think he's into rap. Let me re-phrase that, he's into classic rap, if there's such a thing. Hah... I am not int rap, but I love pop country, so you could see we're opposite on this.

This is the guy who would take care of me when I am sick. The one who didn't demand for me to cook (thank goodness, or we'll be starving and eat ramen noodles all the time), the one who would sing love songs to me & be cheesy. The imperfect guy who accept his imperfect wife. May this coming year be one filled with many blessings. Love, your wifey. :)

In The Meadow

** Please scroll down for Caring Hearts Card Drive detail. **

Happy World Card Making Day! Do you have tons of card making plan for the day? If yes, would you please consider making cards for Caring Hearts Card Drive?

What is Caring Hearts Card Drive? Well, this is a card drive that I started 5 years ago thanks to my mom encouragement. We're collecting holidays cards for the elderly that lives in nursing home. We want to brighten their holiday season and let them know they're not forgotten. And... there's plenty of awesome giveaway!! Check out all the details HERE.

Meanwhile to kick out the holiday card making, I want to share this fun shaker card.

This card is so fun to make. All supplies are from A Jillian Vance Design. For the step-by-step tutorial for this card check out Crafters Home.

Also, to celebrate WCMD, A Jillian Vance Design has a special sale going on for today only.

Now, I am off to celebrate WCMD. There's shopping & some creativity to be done. :)

5TH ANNUAL CARING HEARTS CARD DRIVE

Holiday time is approaching and we are back for the 5th year for our annual Caring Hearts Card Drive to collect holiday cards for the elderly that lives in nursing homes. When I started this card drive, I never thought it would continue this long and that we're actually reaching a 5 year milestone!! That first year, I have no clue on how to run a card drive and thought I'd be lucky if I could get 100 cards. You all surprised me with 750 cards! And each year it continue to grow bigger. Last year we received over 3600 cards.

As we celebrate this milestone, Jennifer McGuire and I are excited to continue this journey and we really hoping that we can bring holiday cheers to as many nursing homes as possible. 

We have a few ladies helping us in collecting the cards. Tina Schrof is working with Jennifer in collecting the cards. To support the nursing homes that are located in Canada, we have Anita Recksiedler and Caroline Bredeson helping out for our Canada joint venture. Since international shipping is expensive, those of you in Canada can mail your cards to Anita or Caroline and they'll distribute the cards. And, this year we branched out to Australia as well. So, if you're in Australia, you can send to Linda. :)

We hope you will join and help us to reach as many nursing homes as possible and continue to spread more joy.

The holidays are about family, kindness, and joy. During this time many of the elderly who lives in nursing homes would really feel the loneliness or missing their family. Wouldn't it be so awesome if we can bring a smile to their face & brighten their holiday season simply by sharing our love of card making? A simple gesture to let them know that they are not forgotten.

We all love making cards and what’s better than knowing our creations can bring a smile to others, right? Some helpful people already agree to help us deliver the cards to selected nursing homes.

A few important details:

• This card drive will be going on till November 28, 2014. We need to receive your card by November 28, 2014.
•  Please make the cards for Christmas or Holiday Wishes. Anyone can send a card, your children, church group, scout troops, etc.
• All cards need to have a message in it (it can be stamped or hand written).  
• Please sign your name and where you are from. 
• Please include an envelope for each card and please don't seal the envelope.
• Please stick to just cards (standard size A2 or 4-1/4" x 5-1/2")
• And please don't use any pins (safety reason).
• This is totally optional. But, if you'd like to include $1 or $2 to help with shipping, it'll be much appreciated. We cover the shipping cost ourselves, with no sponsor, so any donation toward shipping would help tremendously.
• You can mail the cards to:

          Vera Yates, 109 N. Post Oak Lane Ste. 430, Houston, TX 77024                              
          Card Drive, c/o Tina Schrof , P.O. Box 75,  Springboro, Ohio 45066 
             Linda Langes, c/o Gilston State School, 588 Worongary Road, GILSTON QLD 4211
             Piney-fine, Attn: Anita, P.O. Box 30,  Piney, MBR0A 1 K0, Canada

          Caroline Bredeson, 7 Brown Street, Ottawa, ON K1S 1L9, Canada                  

• In each package, PLEASE include THIS SUBMISSION FORM.  This helps us in keeping track for prizes! For each card you send, you will get a chance.  So the more cards you send, the better your chances. 

To thank you for your generosity in supporting this drive, I have several PRIZES ready for several winners. There will be many winners and remember… the more cards you send the better your chances. :)

I'll update the prize list as more prizes coming in. And huge thank you to all the fabulous companies who support this card drive by donating awesome prizes.

Ali Edwards - 4 new stamp sets

Altenew - $25 GC

Avery Elle - $30 gift certificate

Becky Higgins - $50 worth of Project Life product

Butterfly Reflections Ink - $25 GC

Clearly Besotted - £30 (approx. US $45) GC

Crafter's Companion USA - Embossing Folders & Dies package

Ellen Hutson - The COMPLETE line of Julie Ebersole's 

stamp & die release. $210 value.

Frantic Stamper - Two $25 GC

Freckled Fawn - $50 GC

Hero Arts - $75 GC

Impression Obsession - $25 GC

Inspiration Emporium - $25GC

Jane's Doodle - $50 GC

Jennifer McGuire Ink - 10 fabulous stamp/die sets from her favorite company

 Jennifer McGuire - Online Card Classes -  class of your choice - 3 winners

A Jillian Vance Design - $20 GC

Latina Crafter - $35 GC

Lawn Fawn - $50 GC

Lil' Inkers Designs - $25 GC

Mama Elephant - $25 GC

May Arts - 2 rolls of ribbon from May Arts Holiday Collection

My Favorite Things - $50 GC

Neat & Tangled - $25 GC

Newton's Nook Design - $25 GC

Organize More - $40 GC

Paper Smooches - $50 GC

Poppy Stamps - $50 GC

Reverse Confetti - $25 GC

Stampin' Up! Bright Blossom & Make A Cake from Alicia Thelin

Simon Says Stamp - $50GC

Spectrum Noir - The COMPLETE line of Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers + accessories. 

Include 168 markers, storage unit, nibs and DVD. Over $400 value!

Studio Calico - $20 GC

Sweet Stamp Shop - $10 GC & some additional goodies

Tim Holtz - 4 Tim Holts Stamp sets

Verve Stamps - $30 GC

Waffle Flower Crafts - $50 GC

Winnie & Walter - $30 GC

Wplus9 - $25 GC

WOW Embossing - Assortment of embossing powder

V Sweet Ideas - $10 GC

Sakuralala - (2) $15 GC

I will update the prize list as I get more. :) Please feel free to share about this card drive. We really appreciate your support & generosity. Let's rock this card drive and bring Christmas joy to as many nursing homes as we can!! Thank you. 

PS: Thank you to Chaitali Narla for designing the badge. :)