Wishing You Blessings

Hi everyone and happy Monday. How was your weekend? Ours was pretty laid back. It was a cold, gloomy weekend. And, for the 3rd time in a week, we have a fuse blown that thrown all 37 houses in our neighborhood into darkness for a few hours.

I guess, good thing it's winter at the moment. To have no power in the summer in Texas even just a few hours would be unpleasant. And, our winter is not bad like winter in the north. So, we bundle up with dogs and went to bed early, since there's nothing we can do.

Oh, we did do something fun. On Saturday morning we went to the Indonesian consulate and found out that in the afternoon they're hosting a Culinary Festival. So, I attended my girlfriend baby shower and then dash home to go straight back to the consulate again. The thought of a bunch of vendors selling good Indonesian food was dreamy!!

Lucky for me, hubby is just as excited. He keep asking me what was that, what about that one, etc. Then while walking around, I heard someone calling my name. I ignore it thinking I don't have any Indonesian friend in Houston. Well, turned out it was my friend from 9th grade!! What a small world! LOL, I thought the only Indonesian people I know in Houston are my cousins.

To complete my weekend, I also play with some new stamp of course. I recently won this gorgeous MFT set from Lisa Johnson. Pretty rare where I do fall cards, but I love the shape of the leaves on thi set. 

And, I chose a brighter colors as I just couldn't do dark or jewel tone fall colors. I like bright, happy colors. Don't get me wrong. I love fall colors in nature, jut not on cards. ;)

By the way, have you send your cards in for Caring Hearts Card Drive? 2 more weeks to go before it ends. I hope you will send in some cards. Right no we have about 35 places to support and I sure would love to able to cover all the nursing homes on our list.

Thanks for stopping by here and may your week starts off wonderfully!

Paper Crafts Reflection Time

Let me just warn you right away. This is going to be a long post. Lots of personal feeling here. By now, I am sure many of you my fellow card maker have heard the news that Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking is closing down. February 2015 will be their last issue.

When I found out this afternoon, I was speechless. I was like, no it couldn't be!! It's a joke! I mean, this is what in my opinion is the best card making magazine out there. They are one of the reason I like to make cards. They make me challenge myself to create better, to be more creative and they gave me the confidence that I needed when I started my creative journey.

I used to think I wasn't creative enough. My younger brother said once that he thinks I should pursue career in graphic design and I balked at the idea, because I didn't think I was creative enough. But, when I made it to Paper Crafts Gallery Idol back in 2010 and soon after have my cards accepted regularly for publication and made it to other PC contest, I finally see what  my brother sees in me.

Then, I met the PC  team. They are so warm, encouraging & so positive. Susan, always the cheerleader, help me believe in myself. I am so grateful that I get to hang out with some of them at CHA. These moments are short, but I cherish them. Most of all what Paper Crafts means to me beside being an amazing creative outlet: they means friendship.

Because of PC, I got interested to attend CHA and that has opened so many friendship doors that I otherwise would have missed. Priceless, priceless memory. Lots of amazing girls that I just adore. Many I met and many I have not, but feels like I  know them through blogging, chatting online, etc.

                                                

This pic below was from one of the most memorable night at CHA for me. We all just kicking it back, laughing hard, sharing story. This was the CHA that brought some amazing girls to my path, who become so dear to me.

I honestly have no idea where my post going with this. I feel such loss. I know, some people will probably just say, oh it just a magazine. But to me, they are more than that. They are friends, amazing people. My heart hurt for the people that loss their job. My heart also hurt for the loss that our community is now experience.

All I can say is that I hope the friendship I gained through the door that PC opened, will continue to flourish despite this setback. I plan on maintaining the friendship and I pray that all the PC team will find new jobs. 

With that in mind, I want to share this card that was accepted for Card Creations Vol. 13 that now we sadly won't see. 

We all, at one point of our lives facing changes, the unknown. I know I did and will face more as it is part of live. Each time, I got scared. And, my mom always said have faith that things will work out the way they should be.

Tonight I mourned my loss, our loss. It's okay to mourn. Any loss is hard to accept. Sometime they are hard to digest. But, like I told Susan, sometimes bad thing must happen, so bigger, better thing could happen. We just have to allow faith to be our guide...

Thank you Jennifer, Susan, Stacey, Holly, and everyone at PC for the fun journey, for the friendship, support and joy you have brought us paper crafters. Just thank you. <3

Joy To The World

Hi all. Happy Thursday. I don't know about you, but the time change and the colder weather makes me sluggish. After work I find it hard to resist the sofa when it called my name. Especially when two pair of eyes with their wagging tails look hopefully for some snuggle time.

However, I did manage to resist the temptation and made one card before I comply with the doggies request for mommy time. Hah...

Here's a Christmas card that I made. 

Supplies: Chickaniddy Jolly Good 6x6 paper pad,
Wplus9 Stag Trio die, Hand Lettered Holidaydies,
Hand Lettered Holiday stamp set

I have to admit, now & then I still find it hard to use lots of patterned paper on my card. But, I think this card turned out okay.

Well, short post. Doggies whining and it's my duty to keep them happy. :) Cheers....

Seeing Star

  

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Hi y'all. I am back with a new Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. This week our theme is "Seeing Stars". Hah... I freaked out a moment when I realized that I really don't have stars set. I have to dig my stash to see what kind of stars I have. Thank goodness, a couple of the sets have some small stars that I can use. ;)

And, here's my card:

Supplies: Mama Elephant Arctic Penguin , Mama Elephant Make A Wish , Simon Says Stamp Birthday Balloons , Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

Gah.... I just adore this penguin set. They are just too cute. For the ice, I stamped it on vellum to create the icy look. And, finally... I get to use this SSS Christmas dies that just been sitting there on my desk waiting to be used. Of course, if I just use the word Christmas it doesn't look finish. So, more digging and I thought the word wishes from SSS Birthday Balloons set would work.Hey... way to expand the use of your stamp sets, right? Mix and match, baby!

I hope you will play along with us. Can't wait to see what you create! Thank you for swinging by here.

Caring Hearts Blog Hop Winners

Hi everyone! Just a quick post to announce all the winners from Caring Hearts Blog Hop. Ladies, I will email each of you and thank you to everyone for participating in this hop. We really appreciate you all.

We have 3 winners for Online Card Classes. Ladies, you each get to pick 1 free class of your choice. And the winners for Online Card Classes are:
1. From Laura Bassen's blog: Melissa Friedrich
2. From Ellen Hutson's blog: Lucille K.
3. From Latina Crafter's blog: Emily Lauritzen

Winner of Simon Says Stamp $50 GC is from Kristina Werner's blog: Lisa Petrella

Winner of Inspiration Emprorium $25 GC is from Chaitali Narla's blog: Janet Trapp

Winner of Verve Stamps $30 GC from Sarah Gough's blog is: Barb Schmidt

Winner of Latina Crafter $15 GC is from Paper Crafts blog: Lynnea Hollendonner

Winner of 2 rolls of May Arts ribbons is from Kathy Martin's blog: Becca Cruger.

Winner of  one year of free subscription to Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine is from Vera Yates' blog:  Connie Cox

Congrats everyone!!

CASEing Genius

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

Hi all! Recently, a dear friend of mine, started this new feature on her blog every Monday called CASEing genius. And, I am so honored that she has chose to feature me this week. I hope you will go to Kelly Latevola's blog today and check it out. 

Kelly, thank you so much for featuring me. 

Kelly had asked me to share 3 of my favorite cards for her to CASE. And, I can't wait to see her beautiful creation!

That's it for now and I'll be back with another post with the winner announcement for Caring Hearts Card Drive Blog Hop. Stay tune!

Hummingbird Joy

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

Happy Friday! The weather is so gorgeous here right now on my neck of the wood. One of those perfect fall day. Day like this make me wish I have a window in my office. Right now, I have one of those office that tucked inside, away from the window. So, no view. I guess, the good thing is there's no distraction either.

Anyway, last night, after seeing all the beautiful video by Dawn Woleslagle from Wplus9, I decided to pull out my watercolor stuff again and made this card for i {heart} papers. 

Supplies: Wplus9 Flora & Fauna stamp set,
Technique Tuesday Labels by Ali Edwards

I am not super satisfied with the result yet. I think I need to practice more watercolor technique to achieve a result that I really want.

My plan for this weekend is to work in my craft room, open the window and let the breeze in and practice, practice, practice. Sigh... I really need to clean my desk. It's getting pretty bad. Not gonna lie, I am not one of those crafters whose room always organized. Mine, especially during submission time, looks like a shipwreck. Hah... Pile balance on top of another pile.

Well, hubby is suggesting some remodeling soon and my room is one of them. Am pretty excited over the idea as the way he suggested it, I'd have more wall space & may include a simple build in cabinets & hopefully I can be more organized. Not quite sure when it will happen, but hopefully before the end of the year.

That's it for me today. BTW, you still have time to join Caring Hearts Blog Hop. Lots of fabulous inspirations! May your weekend starts of wonderfully.

Be Jolly

Hey... look at that. Two post in 1 day. :) Yepper... After a short break, Naughty or Nice Challenge is back with a new challenge.

This time our theme is holiday animals. With that in mind, I want to share this cute bunny hugging snowman card. It's one the new stamp from Purple Onion Designs called Warm Hearted.

Gotta love that bunny. I always find it hard to resist stamp with bunny on it. :)

I hope you will play along.And, you will have plenty of time to join! the challenge run till November 25th, 2014 and we'll pick 2 winners. 1 for naughty and 1 for nice. We're also welcoming some new team member as well. Please give them warm welcome HERE.

May your day be filled with sweetness.

Simon Says Stamp Designer Spotlight

  

I am so loving November. The pretty, cooler weather (okay, not today as today our forecast is thunderstorm), my card drive is in full swing and am excited to share that I am guest designing for Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for this November. Pinch me!

Simon Says Stamp is one of the generous sponsor for Caring Hearts Card Drive and I am so glad to have this opportunity to guest designing for them.

And, we kick off this month challenge with thinking of you theme.

Supplies: Altenew Painted Flowers, Altenew Super Script, SSS Best Mom Ever,
Mama Elephant Sweet Lilac

I love the way this card turned out. The color combination is just so yummy, don't you think? At first, I was thinking to use fall colors, but except for in nature, I am not a fan for fall colors, so I decided  to try using my new Mama Elephant Sweet Lilac ink pad. It's very rare where I used purple, but this purple is sooo pretty!

I hope you will play along. There's fab prize for the challenge and you could be the lucky one to win the $50 GC!

Caring Hearts Blog Hop Day 1 & Giveaway

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

Hi everyone and welcome to Caring Hearts blog hop day 1. I am glad that you can join us. As you  may know, Caring Hearts Card Drive is all about bringing holiday cheers to the elderly that lives in nursing homes through our handmade cards. Many of the elderly might not have any family member or maybe their love ones live far away, etc. Our goal is to collect as many Christmas/holiday cards as possible and let them know that they are not forgotten.

When I started this card drive 5 years ago, I never thought it would grow by leaps and bounds. I am so grateful that so many of you my fellow crafty peeps continue to support it. This card  drive is possible because of you and of course because of the help of some amazing ladies. I hope many of you will send in your cards. Please send in your cards by November 28, 2014. There are lots of fabulous prizes!

To get you into the holiday card making spirit these talented ladies have step in to share their cards that I hope will get you inspired (see below for all the links). You can find all the card drive details HERE or simply click on the badge on the upper left corner of my blog.

Now, I have a couple cards to share. First up, is this interactive card I made using sets from Mama Elephant & Lawn Fawn. Gotta  love the sweet penguin set.

Mama Elephant Arctic Penguin, Lawn Fawn Snow Day

For this card, I use acetate to create the track to move the penguin while still able to show the snowy background. Here's how it looks like when the penguin skate to the right.

Next, we switched from cute to simple elegant card.

Wplus9 Silver Bells stamp set, Wplus9 Silver Bells dies,
Simple Stories 24/Seven 6x6 paper pad

Here's a complete list of today's hop participants (yes,  you read it right... tomorrow we have more inspiration starting from Jennifer McGuire's blog).

Vera Yates <-- you are here

Ellen Hutson

Savannah O’Gwynn

Caroline Bredeson

Julee Tilman

Chaitali Narla

Reverse Confetti

Amy Kolling    

Amy Sheffer   

Sarah Gough   

Amber Hight  

Lisa Henke  

Kathy Martin   

Laurie Schmidlin   

Susan Liles    

Stacey Schafer   

Linda McClain

Latina Crafter

Newton’s Nook Design

And, here's our awesome prize list. You have till midnight CST, Saturday, November 8th, 2014 to leave comments. Winners will be chosen randomly based on collective comments left on the designer's blogs. So, be sure to leave loads of love for everyone.

Thank you to all  these fabulous companies for their generous support.

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

Inspiration Emporium - $25 GC

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

 Latina Crafter - $15 GC

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking - 1 year free subscription

Simon Says Stamp - $50 GC

Verve Stamps -  $30 GC