A special girl

This card is for a special girl I

know, named Grace.  She is turning

13 on the 12th.  She is smart as

a whip and has the sweetest personality!

When she giggles she gets all red which

cracks me up.   She's such fun to have

in class.  Yesterday when she couldn't

remember a sign I just made a slight

movement and she got it right away.

Hope nobody saw me, LOL!

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Here is the inside:

 

Isn't the butterfly corner so cute?

I have had that for years and years

and still use it quite a bit.  It's one

of my favourite punches.

 

I'm having lunch with Dianne today,

so I'm looking forward to that.  Then

I need to get the house cleaned.  I

mean, really cleaned.  Not just a spit

and shine, but CLEAN.  Who wants

to help me?!

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

 

Mustard seeds

If I've ever shown this card before, I

appologise.  I rarely make more than

one card the same (other than stitching

cards which are patterns), but Pastor was

talking yesterday about having faith the

size of mustard seeds so I brought out my

bottle of McCormick  yellow mustard

seeds and made three more cards.  I

just love how these cards look.  I used

to leave the seed free floating inside

the dome (which is a wiggly eye top) but

they tend to get static, so this time I

glued the seed before I glued the dome

down.  I think it turned out great!

I printed the picture on photo paper so

it would look nicer and the mat is the

glitter paper.

Yesterday I signed the first two songs in

church and then when the other three

were done I switched with Coleen and

...attempted...to do the announcements

again.  The girl on the video talks so 

fast.  I'm going to have to hunt her

down and have a chat with her, LOL.

I've given up the freaked-out face.  I

have learned to not be stiff while signing

the songs. Now Pam tells me I need to

stop mouthing "I can't do this." !!!  I

really don't remember doing it, but she

said I did it like 4 times and-deaf people

can read lips- she reminded me.  I'm

getting there.  Slowly.   Coleen said

she was proud of me for staying in the chair

which is a reference to Pam when she

was just starting out and interpreting for

her teacher who is deaf.  After church he

told her he was proud of her for staying

in the chair.  Later I get a text from Coleen 

saying, "Congratulations for stepping out

of the boat, Peter. "  I sent her one back

that said, "Thanks for all the help, Aaron!"

She said that made her laugh out loud!  

I'm nothing if not funny.  ;)

I probably should get to the post office 

soon.  I'm expecting some toys for Lili

to come any day now.

Happy Monday!

Alcohol ink tiles

I got some ceramic tiles at Menards

the other day and have been having some

fun playing with alcohol ink designs on

them.  Twice I had to take rubbing alcohol 

and take the whole thing off because it

didn't turn out the way I wanted it to.

I finally discovered that if I let the alcohol

ink dry somewhat on the applicator I can 

come up with this:

Aren't they cool?  It was really rainy

yesterday so I couldn't take them outside

to spray with a sealer, but I will do that,

then put cork on the back so they can

be used for coasters or hot plates or whatever.

Last night was deaf chat and Pam and Coleen

didn't come for various reasons.  I get 

there, don't know this, and there is NO ONE

there.  Thanks, Judy, for coming.  I had a

great time even though no deaf people 

showed up.  I thought I was going to be

alone all evening.  You can't very well advertise

a chat and then no one show up if a deaf

person arrives.  Sigh.  The music was good

and we signed to it, so that was fun.  One

of the students from the beginners class

also came for about an hour.

Happy Saturday!

Horsin' around

I stopped into Hobby Lobby 

yesterday (is there any place better

to spend your time/money?!) and 

saw this horse stamp.  Since stamps

were 50% off (when has it ever stopped

me if they aren't 50% off?) I decided

to get it.  I'm not enthralled with

the front of the card since it

seems a bit plain, but I couldn't

think of anything else to do because

the stamp is so big.  I do love the 

inside, though.

Isn't that a neat quote?!

It's not quite so cold this morning so

I spent a little extra time letting B'Elanna

sniff around.  I was busy sniffing the air.

If the wind is just right I can smell the

bread baking at the McDonald's bakery.

I'm not sure how far it is from me, I'm

going to say about two miles.  It's like

walking in Heaven to smell the bread.  I

wonder if God will have smells like that

in Heaven?  I'm thinking yes, since all

good things come from Him.  Speaking

of which, I'd better get back to my Bible

and see what Moses is up to.  :)

Happy Friday!

New Christmas bear!

I've been collecting Christmas bears

since my son, Andy, gave me one

in 1998.  I've missed a few, mainly

two when John died, but I have most

of the years  overall.

I chose this guy because of the

cute bathrobe.  There are so many to

choose from that I get crazy because I

want them all.  I think I have like 5 large

totes full of them!  B'Elanna thinks they

are toys so I have to watch her carefully.

 

 She got a new outfit!

 

"who needs mistletoe when you have

a face like this?"  She loves being

dressed which I always forget to do.

She pushes her head out so I can put

it over her head and even picks up a paw.

Seriously.  This dog loves to be dressed!

 

I have a friend who has been going

through some struggles and he loves

to write so I thought I would make him

a journal to help him express his thoughts.

I didn't put "my journal" or anything on the

front of it because I thought it might be

a little  too cutsey for a guy.  I wish I had

stamped the lighthouse in a different

colour, though.  It doesn't seem to show

up very well.  But I think he'll like it.

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

 

Just another day in paradise

Oh, sorry, I was dreaming of ocean

breezes and palm trees.  Anything to

get my mind off the fact that I keep

hearing the "S" word.  What is wrong

with these people anyway?!  It's cold

outside, too!  

More Christmas candles.  It's so hard to

see but this is stitched in gold thread

on light violet shimmer card stock.  It 

looks a whole lot better in person. 

Or...IRL as they say in the text world.

 

Not much going on around here for

the next two days and I'm going to enjoy

some down time.  Lili will enjoy being

out of her cage more, too. As long as

she doesn't make that obnoxious noise

that she's become fond of in the last

two weeks.  That noise gets her

put back in her "house".

 

 

WHAAAAT???

Happy Wednesday!

 

Christmas presents

Images of Christmas presents to

be exact.  I am actually working on

some gifts, but the progress is slow.

Good thing there's lots of time.  

Although, my friend, Karen, reminds

me occasionally that the time is

limited...thankfully she hasn't posted

anything like that recently, but I'm 

sure she will now!

I love how this turned out except as

I neared the end I thought it might

have looked better on a different colour

background.  Now that I've seen what they

look like on the blue background, I think I

might make a few more with different 

coloured backgrounds.  I also made this

one with the metallic thread and that's

really a pain to work with, but well

worth it, I think.

 

It's been raining since yesterday.  I was

coming home from class last night and

thought the car didn't handle well in the

rain.  It seemed like I was all over the

road.  As I got off the expressway, I noticed

that the trees were blowing like crazy

which is why the car seemed to not want

to stay steady.  I have never driven a

car yet that was very aerodynamic.   The

rain didn't help either because I have

trouble seeing with the glare on the

road.  But I made it home in one piece

so I'm thankful for that.  It seems

more like fall now and I heard the

dreaded "S" word on the news yesterday.

He's just lucky he's on the TV and not

in front of me.  I would have some

choice words for him! 

 

I'm looking forward to lunch with 

Dianne this afternoon and I'll probably

look around for a jacket afterward.  I

have a really  nice one that has zippers

on the sleeves-yes, on the sleeves-and

it clinks all the time.  So I need to find

something that is a little less noisy.  On

the other hand, noisy is good for birds,

so I ordered some noisy toys for Lili

today.  She seems to be bored with her

current toys and a bored bird is one

that is likely to get in trouble.  You know

the old adage, "if the kids are quiet you

better see what they are up to"?  Same

goes for birds.  They are perpetual 2 year olds.

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Stitching meets vellum

My card making friends are going

whaaaaat?  You can see through

vellum, so how can you stitch on

it and not have it show?  Simple.

You use eyelets to attach it to the

back ground card stock, which in

this case is the same glimmer blue

card stock  I used from yesterday,

and stitch it that way.  It's the

same card, because I really like

the tree and know several people

who love blue so they are getting

these cards.  But I think it looks

really amazing on the blue vellum

background.

I'm going to visit my mom today.

I haven't been to see her since the

accident.  She had Robin here to

visit with last week, but now that

I have things worked out with the

car I can get over there myself.

It's been busy with all of that and

classes, church, etc.  I have class

today, too, but it isn't until this evening.

 

Happy Monday!

 

Holly Hobby girl

This is not technically a Holly Hobby

girl, I don't think, but that's what it

reminds me of.  My niece had to have

some major surgery two days ago so

I thought I'd send it to her.

Isn't she a cutie?!

The tree that I showed yesterday looks

very pretty in blue and silver.

I stitched it on the pastel shimmer

paper.  I was able to snag one more

pack at JoAnn's.  If they had had more

I probably would have gotten them

because everything I got was between

40-50% off.  You can't beat those prices!

I should check and see if they have 

any  online at that price!

Cody, Pam and I went to B-dubs

for dinner last night.  I haven't been

there in a long time.  Wow, do I love

the fried pickles!  I could have made

a meal with those alone.  I need to

stop eating so much junk.  

Happy Sunday!

Snowmen and penguins

I got some new patterns yesterday.

After lunch I stopped at the library

to make copies and when I got home

I couldn't find them!  I mean, I can

walk to the library, it's that close!

Finally I realized I must have left

them there.  Sure enough, there they

were, right under the copier.  Duh.

Are these two not the cutest?!  I love the tree.

I'm thinking maybe I should make it in blue

and silver.  That would be very pretty.

I woke up a tad late and I have to leave for

class in about 45 minutes, so

Happy Saturday!

Birthday candles

I don't know why I got this pattern.  I

don't like it all that much and I really

don't like the graphics, but I suppose

I could have put something else there.

I don't even know anyone who has a

birthday coming up.  Well, my dad and

brother in law, but this isn't exactly a 

guy card.  

Robin left yesterday and had a good trip

home.  It's always good to visit, but feels

nice when you are home again.  She has

time to rest up before going to work again

on Monday.  This is a picture of one of

her dogs, Noah.  I guess he always sits

like this.  Just like a regular person, LOL!

Isn't that hilarious?!

I'm having lunch with Pam this afternoon.  

Then I may go to Fort Wayne since Lili's

food still hasn't been delivered.  She's 

pretty much out.   That way I can

go to JoAnn's and see if they still  have

that pearlised card stock yet. 

Happy  Friday!

New car!

This is my  new car, a 2010 Sebring.  Thanks to

my super-negotiator brother in law, Larry,

I got a really good deal.  I think it's going to be

a good car for me.  I still miss my prizm, but

it served me well for many years.  I think we

bought that in 2005.  I'm going to pick this

car up later today.

Robin just left and is going to have 

coffee with my dad before heading home.  

We had a good time together as always and

I will miss her very much.  

I did manage to make one card while she

was here, in between looking for cars, having

lunch with friends and the other things that

come along with having a guest.

It's simple and plain. The frame is popped

up on the front. I used alcohol ink

on the leaves.  It's done on yupo paper.

Some pronounce it yuh-po (Long O)

and some you-po (long O).  At any rate,

it is supposed to be an even better surface

for the alcohol ink.  I seriously didn't

see a lot of difference and I'm apparently

not doing something right.  For 10 3x5

sheets it's 10.00.  I think I'll just stick with

glossy card stock,  domino pieces and the

like.  Alcohol ink is designed to be used

with non porous surfaces.  I've been 

thinking about getting some small ceramic

 tiles and making  coasters.  I'd have

to put felt on the back and I'm not sure how

to seal it, but I did read about it once.  I

just don't remember what it said, LOL.

They would be very pretty though.

Happy Thursday!

The first Noel

I'm pretty sure I've never done a card

that says "Noel".  If I did, then I lied

and it's not the first Noel, LOL.

I think it's pretty cool!  Especially with the

confetti thread.

Robin made it here safely yesterday from

NC and will be staying almost a week.  She's

not sure when she will go back.  It will give

her a lot of time with our parents.  She

stayed here with me last night so we could

go to church this morning.  My brother came

from Detroit yesterday and we had dinner

with my father so that was a fun evening.

Except we went to pizza hut.  On a Saturday

night.  With a big group waiting in line

in front of us.  At dinner time.  Not the

best choice of times and circumstances,

but the meal was good and the time together

even better.

Judy and I are splitting songs today and

I kind of cherry picked ones I am best at

-after all, my sister is here!  So we'll be 

switching twice, but it's just a quick turn

around since I'll be standing pretty much

beside her in front.  She's always so good

to let me pick the ones I am the best

at.  Thanks, Judy!!  Coleen won't get to

see Robin today as she is visiting at

her old church.  I will miss her.  If I

forget a sign Pam will just wait to see what

I'm signing so she can copy it.  She refuses

to give it to me.  Coleen will just keep going.

It's all good.  Pam keeps me on my toes and

Coleen keeps me going.  :)  We had a great 

class yesterday.  It is just me and one

other woman.  She's been through first

level and actually is pretty good, but still

makes some mistakes.  Every time she would

make a mistake Pam would just turn to

me and I would sign what she signed

then show her the right way.  Kind of

a peer review, I guess.  We had a good time.

Happy Sunday!!

Winter birds and the car

I made a card for my uncle to 

thank him for coming from Toledo

and taking my dad and me home.

The picture is a tad crooked.  Do you think

he will notice? I didn't even notice until way

afterward.  Oh well.  

I have been absolutely exhausted the last

few days.  I sit down for more than a few

minutes and my eyes start to close.   I guess my

body was trying to realign itself after the

trauma.  The worst I got was a bruise on

my right shoulder.  I don't even know how that

happened.  Anyway, here's a picture of the car:

Not a pretty sight.  I loved that car.

I'm hoping I can find another car like

it.  Small, I mean.  One that fits me.

The rental car is a full sized car and

it makes me a little nervous to drive.

It makes me a little nervous to drive period.

They had a smaller car but it didn't have

cruise control and that's just not an option

for me.  I do a lot of highway traveling.

I'm still overwhelmed by how God spared

all of our lives that day.  I don't know

what, but I believe He has things 

planned  for all of our lives. 

Happy Saturday!

Not a great day yesterday

This is where I wish I was yesterday

instead of on my way to Toledo.

I never made it there.

I guess I grabbed the wrong picture

and not the cropped one.  Sorry.

So, about Toledo... Remember, folks,

cross traffic doesn't stop.  I didn't even see 

the guy coming and started to pull out 

on the road.  Everyone is OK.  Truly.

My car is totaled.  Completely.  Without

a doubt.  But for the Grace of God I would

have been killed had the guy not swerved just 

the tiniest bit.  My dad was with me and

he is OK, too.  I guess God's not done with

us yet.  I'm still trying to process it.  I'm

just thankful that God decided to spare 

our lives.  All of us.  I don't

know how many people were in the van

but it looked like several.  I don't

think I could have lived with myself if anyone

had gotten killed.  Thank  you, God, for

being there yesterday.

Thinking of you...

It is my personal opinion (for what

it's worth, LOL)  that everyone needs

a surprise in their mailbox every so

often just to let them know someone

is thinking of them.  So that's what 

 this card is all about.  I used the

shimmer paper that I got at JoAnn's

a while back.  I'm on my last piece

and since I can't get it here in town

I really need to make a trip to Fort Wayne

and see if they have any left.  It's so beautiful

and I just love working on it.  It's even easy

to write on.  The inside of this card says

"sending you a great big hug" and is 

stamped crooked.  That way you know it

is handmade-by me-who can never stamp

or put ANYTHING straight!!  :)

The outside of the sentiment I did in gold

pen and got it a little crooked, but fixing it

would have messed it up further and I

really didn't want to do it again.  I'm so lazy.

Besides, it was 930 at night.

We had a great class last night, but I

am never going to get some of this stuff

which means that when I talk to a deaf 

person and I sign things the hard way they

will laugh at me and rightly so.  I mean,

some of these concepts just turn my mind

inside out.  Continually, repeatedly, etc.,

etc.   I try.  I really do.

It's chilly out this morning.  I hope the nice

weather isn't over for good.  I will be very sad.

And  as a side note, I gave Pat the book last
night and she loved it! 

Happy Tuesday!