Wise Men....and a little Update

Hello all my crafty friends, it is my turn to post at Cardz TV Gallery. It's been a rough few months with Christmas not being much easier since the loss of my sweet husband, but with all the grands and our sons, I will get through it.  I have to say, it will be painful all the same and by far the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

I'm really not on top of my game yet, so I will apologize ahead of time. My card for today is a traditional one, one that shows us what the Christmas season is really all about. I stamped my wise men and the city of Bethlehem in black ink and then embossed it in clear embossing ink. That way I could sponge my night sky without messing up my stamping. And no, your eyes aren't crooked...I stamped my stamp crooked. Told you I wasn't on my game. Anyway I proceeded to sponge my skyline with distress inks. I then dribble water on to the distress inks for the "starry sky". Cut out my scene and layered it onto my card base. I did the same thing on the inside as I did on the outside. Mary's sentiments were perfect for this image. Her stamp sets always have the perfect sentiment on them. You can buy this stamp set here as well as many other fabulous Cardz TV stamps sets!  

Recipe:
sentiment stamps: Cardz TV stamps Glad Tidings
Wise Men stamp set: SU Come to Bethlehem
My Creative Time: More Stitched Rectangle dies
distress ink colors: Broken China, Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, and Chipped Sapphire
ink: Versafine Black Onyx
embossing powder: Ranger clear
paper: Neenah Bright White and SU Heavy weight whisper white

I want to take a moment and thank all my wonderful blogging friends who have left me such sweet and loving comments since the passing of my husband. It warms my heart to know how much you all care about me! I also want to say a huge thank you for all the beautiful sympathy cards I received, between my blogging friends, friends, family and the community the pile of cards was over a 1 foot high. Unbelievable! It was a long viewing, with people standing in line for an hour and 45 minutes. Our son's knew their dad was well respected in our community and had lots of friends, but even they were amazed at the amount of people that showed up for his viewing. I wasn't and knew that it was going to be like that. My husband was an amazing man, a man that so many respected and loved. Just before he passed, I saw grown men coming to our home to see him and leaving weeping their eyes out. Very heartbreaking for everyone. I still can't write or talk about him without the tears streaming down my face. The amount of food that came into this house was amazing as well. Everyone has been so amazing to me!! Family and friends have kept me busy by whisking me off on trips, evening trips, out to eat or just keeping me company in the evenings. So much love offered to me by everyone and that it just melts my heart! I have always know how blessed I've been, but it was really hammered home to me after the passing of my husband just how blessed I still am!  I want to thank everyone as well for their wonderful Christmas cards that have been sent to me. I didn't get any cards out myself. I just got through sending out over 60 thank you cards from the funeral stuff. That doesn't even include the people that donated to Hospice in my husbands memory! So as you can see what amazing people I have in my life and that includes all my sweet and amazing blogging friends!! I just can't even imagine you all not being a part of my life! So I'm sending all my love to you all this Christmas, wishing you the best life has to offer you because you all truly deserve only the best life has to offer. 

Here is my sweet husband's obit, I hope you don't think ill of me for sharing it. He just was my world and I loved him so and was so proud of him. If you have stuck with me through this long post, thank you and bless you. 

I will be back in the new year to resume my DT duties and hopefully to share some scrapbooking pages/pocket scrapping. Crafty hugs and love to you all! Brenda

Dwayne T. Lawrence 01/03/1963 - 10/10/2015 Dwayne T. Lawrence, 52, of Hanover, entered into God’s eternal care Saturday, October 10, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Brenda S. (Squires) Lawrence to whom he was married 22 years.  Born January 3, 1963 in Hanover, he was the son of Barbara A. (Hampton) Lawrence of Hanover and the late Mark D. Lawrence.  Dwayne was employed at Hanover Prest Paving, Hanover and was a lifelong farmer. He was a 1980 graduate of New Oxford High School and a member of Sacred Heart Basilica and SAVES. His passion was farming and he enjoyed sharing the farming experience with his sons and grandchildren. He also enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family and friends.  Surviving in addition to his wife and mother are six sons; Lance Shamer and his wife Kristin of Fort Drum, NY, Josh Lawrence and his wife Jill of Abbottstown, Corey Shamer and his fiancé Rebecca of Taneytown, MD, Evan Lawrence and his wife Brittany of New Oxford, Brian Lawrence and his wife Amie of Spencer, Iowa and Bret Lawrence of Hanover, 8 grandchildren and two siblings; Keith Lawrence of Hanover and Belinda Arnold of McSherrystown.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at Sacred Heart Basilica, Edgegrove, with Rev. Joseph R. Howard as celebrant. Burial will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery, Hanover. Friends and relatives will be received Tuesday 6 to 8 p.m. at Murphy Funeral Home, 501 Ridge Ave., McSherrystown, with a prayer service at 8 pm.  Contributions in memory of Dwayne may be made to VNA/Hospice, 440 N. Madison Street, Hanover, PA 17331. Guestbook Click here to sign the guestbook

Jingle On

Hello Cardz TV Gallery fans, Brenda here from Friends Craftin' with Friends and it's my turn to share a project with you. Right now my projects are simple and all done in advance, scheduled to post as I am taking time off since the passing of my husband. So please pardon my quickie cards. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:

Paper: Scrap piece from the Paper Studio-Hobby Lobby

Greenery:  Martha Steward branch punch

Jingle Bell: My Creative Time Warm Holiday Fun Stamp and Die set

Sentiments: Cardz TV Naughty or Nice stamp set

Thankful Heart

Hello Cardz TV Gallery fans, Brenda here from Friends Craftin' with Friends and it's my turn to share a project with you. Right now my projects are simple and all done in advance, scheduled to post as I am still mourning my husband's passing. So please pardon my quickie cards. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:

Pattern Paper - DCWV I think it is a stack from last year

Dies: My Creative Time - A Thankful Heart Stamp & Die set, Stitched Squares Inside & Out, Stitched Rectangular Frames Dies & More

Sentiment - Cardz TV - Heartfelt Wishes Stamp set

Everyday is a Gift

Hello Cardz TV Gallery fans, Brenda here from Friends Craftin' with Friends and it's my turn to share a project with you. Right now my projects are simple and all done in advance, scheduled to post as I am still mourning my husband's death.  So please pardon my quickie cards. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:

Sentiment: Cardz TV Just Saying Stamp set

Tree, Cloud & Sun: My Creative Time Seasonal Greetings Stamp & Die set, Fun Stitched Clouds dies, Build a Banner Kit

There's a Hole in my Heart

The love of my life lost his battle with cancer this morning and the good Lord took him home at 3:50 am today. He was surrounded by our sons, some of our grandchildren and of course I never left his side. It was a hard evening and morning for us all. I really don't know how I will go on without the love of my life being next to me, there's a huge hole in my heart. I know God will get me through this, it just doesn't feel like it at this time. 

So while I have some scheduled posts, I won't probably be around for a while. Or maybe I will need to be here. I just don't know. My emotions are like a roller coaster and right now, I just have to get through the funeral and get used to not have my love sitting right by me each night. I have to get through him not being here to harvest the crops. Our boys will be doing it instead. My love so wanted to get in that combine one more time-farming was his passion, his family was his other passion. He worked 50 hours a week and then came home and farmed 5 farms. I was in awe by him everyday. There was nothing he couldn't do. And I just can't believe he isn't here anymore. But he isn't in pain anymore. He is cured now, the cancer isn't eating him alive anymore. And can I just say....CANCER SUCKS! It robbed me of my love, robbed my grandchildren of their papaw and I know that we aren't the only one that is walking this journey or that has lost their grandfather, their father or the love of their life.  

So please bare with me as I find my way in this journey. I don't know where this journey will lead me, but I know that one day I will get where I'm going with my beloved looking down over me and our boys and our grandchildren. 
Crafty hugs, Brenda

Carvin' Time

Hello crafty friends, I'm here with another scheduled post for Cardz TV Gallery. These posts will be quick and simple as well as my cards. 

I thought this paper was perfect for my pumpkins. I wish I would have thought to put some chunky glitter on the tops of my pumpkins to mimic frost, but I will before I send it out. Make sure to check back everyday but Sunday for more inspiration using Cardz TV stamps! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:

Old DCWV Halloween stack

Pumpkins: Fall Fun & Let's Face It Cardz TV Stamp sets

Sentiments: Fall Fun & Trick or Treat Cardz TV Stamp sets

It's Fall Ya'll!-Cardz TV Challenge

This is a pre-scheduled post-
Hello crafty friends, Brenda here from Friends Craftin' with Friends and it is my turn to share a project with you here at Cardz TV Gallery. Today I have a simple card for you. I made a "word" collage using fall words from the Cardz TV stamp set called "Fall Fun" and you can buy any Cardz TV stamp sets here. My "stitched" border is another Cardz TV stamp set called "Basic Borders. Just a simple fall card to send out to family or friends. 

Recipe: Cardz TV Stamp sets "Fall Fun" & "Basic Borders"
             My Creative Time " A Thankful Heart: leaves dies
             Distress Inks to color my leaves and India Ink to stamp sentiments

Please make sure to check back everyday through Saturday for more inspiring projects using Cardz TV stamp sets! Crafty hugs, Brenda

A Quick Update

Hello everyone, I wanted to drop in here real quick to give you the latest update. We went to the oncologist today and as I suspected he did call Hospice in. They will be here tomorrow to get hubby set up. He was funny and looked at the doctor and said, "What do I need them for, I got her." Meaning me. I said I think he needs the nurses to keep him comfortable, but he doesn't think so, but I over ruled on that one. I will give that man anything I can, but this. I need those nurses here to keep him comfortable and as pain free as they can. Doc also gave us a time frame for the first time. And as we know, no one knows but God when He will call hubby home, but in doc's experience he is saying 3 to 6 months, could be sooner, could be later. That hit hard, but I knew in my heart that hubby's time was near.  For the first time hubby's "numbers" are out of wack. He is starting with liver issues as the test results showed. Doc said that his liver will fail and hubby will slip into a coma and then die peacefully. Well, thank God for a peaceful passing for him! I don't want him suffering anymore than he already has. Our boys are rallying around us, which is wonderful. The one in Iowa is coming home in the 9th, he will have to go back as he and his wife are teachers, he is a Tech Ed teacher and she is an Art teacher. But of course they will get their bereavement once hubby passes.  Our son that is in the Army, is coming home at the same time and of course I will call Red Cross to get his bereavement when that time comes. The boys are rallying together to get everyone home at the same time-aren't they the greatest?!! I'm telling you we have awesome son's and they are more worried about keeping their dad comfortable and making sure I'm ok. I'm worrying about them and they are worrying about me. I've said it before and I will continue to say it, hubby and I have been so very blessed in so many ways. I can't even begin to count all our wonderful blessings. 

So with docs insight today, it has really hit home to us. Hubby is very depressed, but that is normal. He did ask doc for some depression meds, so we will see how they go. Doc doesn't think they will help much, so we will see. Anyway I so appreciate all your wonderful and caring comments. I feel like each one of you are here with us giving support to us. I thank you so much for your caring, your support and your love. I have to agree with Carol, cancer plain sucks! But we will pull through as a family and have our beautiful memories and scrapbooks to look back on and will cherish them. I will keep hubby alive to our grandchildren and I hope that there is farms in heaven because that is hubby's passion!  God Bless you all and thanks for hanging in with me. I will be back, I just don't know when. Love and hugs to you all!!! Brenda

Hopkins Update

Hello my crafty friends, it has taken me a bit to do this post. Hubby and I went down to Hopkins on Monday. Hubby doesn't qualify for the study because he isn't "healthy" enough. The doctor told him to go home and live out the remainder of his time the best he could with the family. It was devastating news to us both, but I know what the doctor said was true. Hubby is going down hill everyday, I'm not sure he will even make it through the fall. It was hard having to tell our boys and I just got that done on Tuesday night. Our oldest is in the military and I have to judge when hubby is really bad, but not bad enough to pass before I can go through the Red Cross to get our son home to say his goodbye. I have to say this is really tough! I guess too, I should say that we are a blended family, we had "yours", "mine" and "ours". Son #1 and #3 were mine, son's 2, 4 and 5 where hubby's and son #6 is ours together. But very few people realize it or remember it. As a teacher once told me, "I forget you have a blended family because, a) the boys all look alike, b) you both treat them all the same so no one would really know that they aren't yours or that they are all real brothers. Well they are real brothers in every sense of the word, they just don't have the same blood. So our boys are hurting-all of them. My husband was a great father to all our boys or should I say men because they really are, but still boys to me and my heart. He taught them great work ethics and I'm so proud of the men they have become. Our youngest of course is the one who is in his second year of college, he is the one I worry about the most. It's going to be hard for us all, but I think especially hard on him. Now I have to brag, all our guys have stepped up to the plate to make sure I now they are here for me. One has told me he will make it his mission to make sure that myself and my youngest are taken care of if anything happens to his father. How sweet is that?! I know they all will do whatever they have to and what ever they can to see me through this. It is I who should be seeing them through this, not the other way around. But I'm a sissy and will need them.

So today we go see our oncologist, hubby get's his shot and I look for the doctor to call Hospice in very soon. Hubby isn't eating well at all and he isn't drinking much, I know he is getting dehydrated because the nurse had a hard time getting blood from him for his blood test yesterday. I will have some scheduled posts to fulfill my design team obligations (and no, I don't have to do this, but feel obligated to do it because I kinda' get paid, paid in stamps) coming up. After that I don't know when I will be back to blogging. The guys and I will have much to do when we lose hubby. So much farm equipment that will need to be sold and I haven't a clue about what it is even worth and of course the list will go on. Will have to find affordable health insurance for myself and our youngest. Hubby is only 52, so his job still carries us on their health insurance, hubby has worked for this local company for 35 years, started with them at 17 years old, so his boss made sure he covered the whole family without it costing us a cent! Yes, we are blessed, but once hubby is gone, that will be gone too. I am very thankful for them for taking care of us the way they have this last 2 years, they have certainly went above and beyond what they had to as they continued to pay hubby his pay whether he worked or not. Yes, blessed we are with this company. Not many employers would or do do this! So I can't complain except for the fact of this cancer taking my husband here one day. 

I also want to thank all of you who have left messages for me, prayed for us and sent cards to us. I can't even begin to list you all as I would probably miss someone, but you know who you are and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hubby just couldn't believe all the people praying for him. It truly touched his heart as well as mine!! 

If you are still with me this far, bless your heart. I will be back to let everyone know when hubby has passed, but don't know when I will be crafting again. Maybe I will feel the need to scrap my pictures and will post them, or maybe not.  I don't know how I will feel. I do know that I love you all and will never forget the love and support you have instilled upon us. Until then......crafty love and hugs to you all! Brenda

Hopkins News

Hello friends, I have to thank you for all your prayers and well wishes for hubby. He is slowly getting better since radiation has started. He finished his 4th treatment today out of the 10.

We went to Hopkins this morning after radiation. Doc wasn't happy to see hubby using a cane to get around. I have noticed though that he isn't using it as much around the house now. Anyway, our Hopkins doctor told hubby that he has to been able to function with everyday life to be eligible for a study and of course last time he was, this time not so much. I have seen an improvement with his walking in the last 3 radiation treatments so doc is encouraged that he will be back up and functioning after he is done with radiation. If he isn't there isn't anything else that can be done except to make him as comfortable as they can. I think though that he will be good to go once this back pain is gone, which hopefully it will be once he is done with radiation. 

We go back down to Hopkins on the 14th of Sept. to see the doctor again and she will see how he is doing and make a determination of whether he is eligible for a colon cancer study. He will also do blood work for her in the same building and we will have to bring all his scans that have been done of course. Doc also told us that he will have to wait 2 to 3 weeks after radiation before starting a study. That's better than 28 days!  So next Tuesday, the 1st of Sept. he will be done with radiation and then the count down can begin. So keeping the faith that a study will be open for hubby to begin with as soon as doc says he can begin.

Thanks again for all the prayers and well wishes, we truly appreciation them all!!
Hugs, 
Brenda

CAT Scan News

Hello my sweet and wonderful crafty friends. It is with a heavy heart I come to you all today. We got the results of hubby's CAT scan and it wasn't good news. Which I was afraid was going to be the case as the fevers came back Saturday and hubby has had them everyday since. I was also worried about the pain in his back. I was and still am praying that it is just the arthritis in his back that is causing the pain. The treatments shrank some of the tumors, other tumors it did not and it let more new tumors come. I don't understand how it could shrunk some and not others or even to tell new ones come, it just doesn't make sense to me. But hubby's oncologist said he thought it would play out this way. Therefore he is stopping treatments, which of course he already did the last time we were there. That's why there wasn't a treatment yesterday. Hubby told him about his back pain he has been having and sure enough there was suspicious spots on his spine. Doc is afraid that the cancer may have moved into his spine and if that is the case he wants hubby to do radiation. So Friday hubby go for a bone scan and an MRI. We won't get the results until Tuesday as doc will be out of town until Monday. Doc wants hubby to still contact Hopkins and get in on a study there. Doc doesn't want hubby to mention the fevers, especially since he has been getting in the late afternoon/evening hours. So hubby called down to Hopkins and the one study is closed because it is full. Ok, we thought that it wasn't meant to be for that study. I am however praying hard that he can get into some kind of study. I don't think the first study was the study that the JH doctor wanted him in anyway. I just need him in something receiving some kind of treatment. I feel that we have hope if he is being treated, crazy as that sounds since most of the treatments he has receive haven't helped shrink the cancer. I'm desperate and more than prepared to beg them to take him at Hopkins. So that is where we are at right now. I don't know how often I will be posting, I don't know how much I will be commenting but you all will be in my thoughts and I will be around as my emotions let me. Not in a good place right now, but still some hope there. I know I have no right to ask, as you all have been wonderful with your prayers, but could you still keep hubby in your prayers? I'm just not ready to lose him!

Thank you for all the prayers you have been saying for hubby!! And thank you for taking the time to follow along on this journey with us. It will be two years come Oct when we started this journey and it has been a very emotional one the whole time. 
Hugs,
Brenda

Sweet Juicy Watermelon-BBTB2 Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday! I haven't posted in a while and I may have not been to visit you in a while too. So sorry about that, I follow your blogs through email or bloglovin'. Mostly by email and I haven't been getting my email notifications anymore for some reason. This tends to happen from time to time and it is frustrating. I'm not getting my email notifications for You Tube either. So if I haven't visited your blog, I'm truly sorry. I will be back as soon as I get my notifications again. In the mean time I will get to the blogs that I follow using bloglovin'. 

On the medical front, hubby was given an extra week off from chemo. So no chemo this week. Doc is afraid that the chemo will do permanent nerve damage. So he is having hubby doing a CAT scan tomorrow and then on Monday he will go in for quite possibly his last treatment. Doc will contact our doctor down at John Hopkins to let her know that hubby is ready for the study. Hubby will just have to wait the 28 days to get all the chemo out his system. He should be able to do all the testing for the study. We will see what Monday brings, as well as the results of the CAT scan. I'm praying that the study will be just what he needs to kick this cancer's butt!

Ok, back on track here, we have a new challenge today and that challenge is being hosted by our sweet and talented Susan. She has challenged us as well as you to use watermelon on our projects. I searched all my Cricut cartridges for watermelons and then picked the one I liked best and this is what I came up with. 

As always thank you for taking time out of your day to visit me. I always love when you stop by and your comments always make my day more special! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:

Ant-Nate's ABC's Cricut Cartridge

Watermelon-Preserves Cricut Cartridge

Sentiment-Cardz TV Sugar Rush stamp set

Pattern Paper-May or may not be old Creative Memories paper

It's All About the Water! - BBTB2 Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, here we are at Monday again. I swear this summer is flying by way to fast! It is chemo week and tomorrow we will see how hubby does with the meds he is to take tonight and in the morning and if they work for controlling any allergic reactions. Keeping my fingers crossed! 

As you know if it is Monday, then it is a brand new challenge over at BBTB2. This week our sweet and talented Sharon has given us the challenge to jump into the water! Our challenge and yours is to make a project using water as most of us love to lounge by the pool, go to the ocean and lounge on the beach, or lake. Water parks are very popular as well in the summer, so you can go in many directions with this water challenge. I didn't know what I wanted to do for this challenge, I guess I had to many options. lol I was going to scrap my Niagara Falls pictures from when we went to Iowa, but my printer ink won't be here until today, so I decided not to go with that. After searching Pinterest for inspiration I finally went with today's card.  Now it is your turn, link up with BBTB2 with your water project. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

As always thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by and visit me. Your comment always bring sunshine to my day!! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:

Pack Your Bags Cricut Cartridge

Build a Scripty & Watercolor Background Stamp Set by My Creative Time

Surf's Up Stamp and Die set by My Creative Time

Distress Inks in Faded Denim and Salty Ocean

Tree's that Shade-BBTB2 Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, here it is Monday once again. I hope you all had a safe and fun 4th of July. It rained here until 5:30 and we caught a glimpse of the sun for a brief minute. So we just hung out relaxing. And I baked hubby some cookies. Last Monday when hubby had chemo he had another allergic reaction, much milder because of their swift actions. They had given him Benedryl before starting chemo. After being into chemo for a while, the head nurse comes by and asked me if hubby had that rash on his forehead and I said no. He said he didn't think he saw one either, so he stopped chemo and started flushing saline through his system. Doc came out and looked at hubby and once the rash left, they started chemo back up and hubby finished up with out any more happenings. Now before he goes in next Monday, he has to take 4 new pills the night before, 4 the morning of and 30 minutes before chemo, he is to take 2 Benedryl pills. I assume they will be giving him a shot of Benedryl as well once there. That really knocks hubby and other chemo patients out and they sleep the entire time. Hope this next round doesn't have any reactions with it! We did get some good news, hubby's tumor marker came down by 50 points! We were so happy to hear that. Of course he has a long way to go, but we are going in the right direction!

Well you know if it is Monday then it is time for a new BBTB2 challenge. Our challenge was to use a tree on our project. It get's hot in the summer and we all love the shade a tree can provide in the summer months. I have to tell you that the layout I did for this challenge gave me all sorts of problems from the get go. The final thing that happened was I ran out of ink in my printer. lol But I only needed one more thing and that is a trail sign in front of my critter riding the 4 wheeler, so I will add it when I get more ink. Just before hubby got sick with his fevers, we went to VA for the Easter holiday. It was warm and sunny. We road the 4 wheeler's and a Ranger all over our friend's 300 acres and had a ball. So I took some pictures from that to make my layout with. Our friends have made all kinds of trails throughout their land, there is one spot where it is a huge hill that goes down, like a steep roller coaster hill. I always dreaded going down or up it on the back of a 4 wheeler with hubby. My friend (who is more like a sister to me) got a Ranger, so I started riding with her in it. That little truck ATV takes that hill like it is nothing, and it isn't near as scary. lol We went first down the big hill and then the guys came after us. One at a time. And since we were at the bottom first we took pictures of the guys come down. I wish the picture showed how steep that hill really is! We also went through some mucky water that had collected in a "hole" and became very muddy as well as slippery. Once again us girls went first and waited for the guys to come through and took pictures of them. We girls were protected inside the Ranger, but the guys, well their 4 wheeler's got muddy and they had to put up their feet to stay dry and mud free. lol It was a great time that weekend, ending with a beautiful Easter meal that us girls made. After the meal we got on the road to head home because hubby had his first appointment at Johns Hopkins. But as we know, he never got back down because of the fevers. We are hoping by fall he will be able to go back. 

As always, I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to visit little ole me, your comments always make my day. If I haven't been around to see you, I will be soon. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:
Campin' Critters Cricut cartridge
Print and Cut using the Explore
Papers from an old DCWV paper stack, 
Plain light blue paper-don't know who it is by
SU Rotary Alpha stamp
My Creative Time die Arrows

Flags/Banners-BBTB2 Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, I hope this Monday finds you all well and ready for a new week. It is chemo today, yes usually we go on Tuesdays, but this week Tuesday was pretty booked up, so we went with a Monday. Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well this week at chemo. Hubby seems to be doing pretty good, those fevers are few now, which is a good sign. My ribs are healing slowly. They still hurt but not like they did, but sleeping is still a challenge. I will get there though, just time is needed and I've got that.

Trying to get back into the swing of getting crafty. I don't always do well in the summer as it seems to be a lot to do in the summer. Of course this year, we are getting washed away by all the rain. We got 7 1/2 inches of rain this past week! With 3 1/4 just on Saturday! So I won't be mowing grass for a while so that is one thing off the plate. lol Although I do love to mow the grass. Anyway we have a new challenge over at BBTB2. Our talented and so sweet design team sister, Michele, gave us the challenge of making a project using a flag or banner for the upcoming holiday. Gosh, can you believe that the 4th of July is this weekend?!! Summer is flying by and I'm not ready for that. lol My card for today is very simple, but patriotic.  I used the print and cut feature on my Explore for the girl and her flag. That's it, I told you it was simple. I don't have much mojo at times. lol But I think it is good enough to use for Hero mail in my OWH box. So I will write a letter in it to one of our Hero's. Now it is your turn, make anything with a flag or banner and link up with us. Can't wait to see what you all make! 

As always, thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to stop by and visit me. I know I'm behind on making my rounds and I'm trying to get caught up a little each night. Have a wonderful week and thanks again for your sweet comments, they really do make my day! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:
girl and flag-Summer Celebrations
banners-Art Philosophy
sentiments and inside border-My Creative Time 4th of July Stamps

Rudolph Day

Hello my crafty friends, sorry I have been MIA lately. I hurt my ribs right before the wedding, and then there was the wedding, visiting grandkids, a gender reveal party, chemo and of course Father's Day-busy times. Hubby had an allergic reaction to chemo this past time while getting it, scared the daylights out of me but the nurses were quick and had him back in shape. They were really awesome and kept a great eye on him while he finished up chemo. He finished his chemo and he finished up without any more reactions thank goodness. 

Well I finally got into my crafty room and made a card for Rudolph day, which started today. It always starts on the 25th of each month and you have until the end of the month to link up your card. I love playing along as often as I can, it gives me some Christmas cards made ahead of time for once. lol  My card is a total CASE. You can see the original card here. Mine isn't as CAS as Kristie's but I am happy with the way it came out. I fell in love with Kristie's card as soon as I saw it and so I thought I would try to CASE it. I used Lawn Fawn's Joy to the Woods stamp set, my watercolors and water color paper, hot pressed. I ordered hot pressed by mistake and then wondered what the difference was between hot and cold press watercolor paper. I found out that hot press watercolor paper is smooth and the colors sit more on top of the paper instead of absorbing into the paper thus making them look more vibrant. Cold press is textured and the watercolors absorb more into the paper. Both are neat and can have a place in the craft room. So it was a happy mistake, why don't you try both and see if you love them both?! So I took my watercolor paper and cut it to size to fit on my A2 card base. I taped around my paper with micro-pore tape to give a border. Then I water colored a sky background using black watercolor. I heat to dry it, then darken the upper part of the sky some more, then dried it with my heat gun. I popped up my birch trees and glued my cardinal down flat on the birch tree. I cut my "merry" out and glued it down. My "Christmas" was stamped with the rotary alpha stamp by SU. I was a little sloppy with it, I really need to practice using it. lol And I got some black ink underneath my sentiment, so I took a red Spectrum Noir maker and made a red line at the bottom of my card as well as on the inside. I want to see how a few silver stars will look yet in the sky, so may add some of them later. But that is about it. My CASE'd card. I hope you like my little CASE'd card and I want to thank you for popping by for a visit today. It always makes my day when you visit me and I love your sweet, sweet comments! I am going to try and get some wedding pics uploaded as well as the results from the gender reveal party. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Recipe:

Lawn Fawn, Joy to the Woods

My Creative Time, Boughs of Holly

hot press watercolor paper

Loi Water colors Pocket Field Sketch Box 

Wedding Projects

Hello my crafty friends, I hope this hump day finds you all well and looking forward to the upcoming weekend. Hubby has been working some, so that is a good thing to see him feel well enough to go to work! His fevers are gone on some days and come back on others, but I think the treatments are working to completely get rid of them, which makes me very happy. So hubby is hanging in here pretty good, of course this is his free week from chemo, back at it all over again next week. 

As you know, our #4 son is getting married this Saturday. I was asked by the bride and groom to make some things for them. First they wanted table numbers done up. I was given a picture of some she saw on Pinterest. You can see them here. So I got to designing on Design Space and used my Cricut Explore to print and cut the table number mat. I hand lined around the mat using a black marker. I used the Cricut cart Calligraphy for my font. I used SU paper to make the "tent" base and added silver glitter paper as the "ribbon". Cut the peacock feathers and adhered everything down. Here is my version, not bad eh?!! 

Next I was show a picture of some Unity candles, the happy couple wanted their Monogram on the candles in vinyl. So I got to work! You can see the candles I was shown here from Amazon. And here is my version using a font from the computer:

And finally this was my bridal shower gift to the bride to be. The frame came from Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon. And the SVG file came from SVG Attic. The font is the same font I used on the table number mats, Calligraphy. 

The happy couple were very happy with their wedding goodies that I did for them. They both loved the Monogram frame, which made me very happy. lol  

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my wedding items. And as always I appreciate you taking time from your busy day to visit me. Your comments always make my day! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Wedding Time! - BBTB2 Challenge

Hi my crafty friends, I hope your Monday is off to a great start! Hubby went to work this morning so that is a good thing. He has been doing half days for now. Tomorrow is chemo day so he won't go back in to work until Friday. His pump will be put on tomorrow afternoon and will come off on Thursday afternoon. He always feels like he has been freed from prison when that pump comes off. lol Anyway enough chatter, lets get on with it.

Our sweet design team sister, Kelly, gave us the challenge to make a wedding or anniversary project for this week at BBTB2. This challenge comes at a good time for me as we have a son getting married on June 13th. I got my inspiration from this card on Pinterest. The Cricut cartridges I used on my card are George and Basic Shapes for the lettering and Bits and Pieces for the hearts. It was a very simple card to make and didn't take long at all. I sized everything in Design Studio and then cut it out. Easy peasy! I used stickles on the hearts that aren't embossed and on the letters as well. In real life it sparkles so pretty! I using Swiss Dots embossing folder on some hearts and the top of my card. I also popped up each of the larger hearts with the smaller heart glued on the larger heart. The layers are popped up on foam tape as well with the Mr and Mrs glue directly to the card base. So what do you think of my white on white wedding card? Now it is your turn, go check out what inspiration my design team sisters have for you and then you make a wedding project and link up with us! I can't wait to see what you make!

As always, I appreciated you taking time from your busy day to visit me. Your comments always make my day that much brighter!!  Crafty hugs, Brenda

Rudolph Day

Hi my crafty friends, I have two Christmas cards I wanted to share with you. The first one I'm entering in the Rudolph Day challenge. Rudolph Day always starts on the 25th of each month and ends on the last day of that same month. So it is always fun to play along so I will have a nice stash of Christmas cards when the time comes. For this Rudolph Day card, I used a stencil from Stamplorations that I won over at Darnell's NBUS challenge one time. I used white embossing paste with the tree stencil, it actually has to trees in this stencil! Then I put SU gold embossing powder on it. Let it dry and then heated the gold. I popped it up on foam tape to my card base.  I need a little more practice with getting the embossing paste smooth. lol  I did the sentiment the in the same embossing paste. Just a very simple CAS card. 

For my second card, I was going to enter it into the Muse Christmas Vision challenge, but of course I didn't get the card photograph so it didn't get entered. But I did play along! So that makes two more Christmas cards for my stash. For this one I used a SU stamp set, added some stickles and some Wink of Stella to the pine cone and needles. I also moved the pine needles just a smidgen and re-stamped with white ink to make the pine needles not so stark looking. Not sure I like it though, but it is done, so it is staying that way. lol  Nothing really to this one either. Cut my ovals using a My Creative Time die. Just easy peasy, plain Jane. 

Thanks for taking the time from your busy day and visiting me. I so love when you do and your comments always lift my spirits! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Dance Like No One's Watching-BBTB2 Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, since hubby's fever has come down and he has started treatments again, I decided to get back on my DT. I have missed crafting and I'm rusty to say the least, but hopefully I will get back in the swing of things. Hubby's last chemo treatment was rough on him. He was feeling a little sick while getting treatment so the nurse gave him some saltines to nibble on. Got home and he promptly ran to the bathroom. I felt so bad for him. Then the nurse and pharmacy got here to get hubby's pump placed on. The pharmacy delivered the meds and then left and then the nurse got hubby set up with his pump. No sooner than she got it on him than he was back in the bathroom. When he came out he was so white, his lips were so white and it was a little scary to see. His heart rate was up of course so the nurse said she wasn't leaving until his rate was back down. So I got him settle in his recliner, covered him up because he was freezing and the nurse checked him a little later. His heart rate was back down so she left and he rested. The next morning he felt good to go so I was a thankful wife!

Today over at BBTB2 our challenge was issued by our our sweet design team sister, Emily. Her little girl is going to be starting dance soon so that is our theme, dance. I didn't know where I was going to go with this challenge. But in the end this is what I came up with. My dancing girl comes from the Cricut cartridge Shall We Dance. My mat is from Elegant Edges and I had my Explore write my sentiment using the Quarter Note cartridge.  I punched a Martha Stewart butterfly and two smaller butterflies using a Studio G punch. I added some pearls and called it done. Let's see your dance projects and make sure to use your Cricut cartridges. Can't wait to see what you do. 

Thank you for taking time from your busy day to visit me, I always love to read your sweet comments-they always make my day! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Get Well Soon!-Cardz TV Gallery

Hello my crafty friends,  hubby's fevers are doing much better. He still has a low fever, but at least it isn't 104 anymore. Today is chemo day, so I am sitting beside hubby while he gets his treatment. I dare say I think they are working on the tumors and that is why the fevers have came down.  It's so nice to have him feeling better now and he even has been going into work for a half a day this week as well as getting the planting done on the farm finally! That made my heart sing when he got out on the tractor. Farming is his passion, so when he wasn't feeling well enough to even farm, I knew it was bad. So things are going pretty good and I attribute that to all of the prayers from you and others!! I am coming back to crafting and my design teams and it feels good to know we are getting back to a kinda' normal routine again. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers! 

Today it is my turn to post over at the Cardz TV Gallery.  I am using the Cardz TV stamp set called Mixed Messages and you can get this stamp set here. There are a lot of great sentiments on this set, the one I'm using today is "doctor's orders...feel better soon" for a get well card. The SVG files I used are from Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbon. The center step card base, layers and the cute pills and pill bottle all came from there. These SVG files pare together with Mary's stamp set perfectly! Thanks for stopping by today and make sure to stop back the rest of the week at Cardz TV Gallery for some awesome projects from my design team sisters!! As always thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit me. Your comments always make my day!! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Muse-Christmas Visions Challenge

Hi my crafty friends, a little update on hubby and then I have a card believe it or not. Hubby had a partial treatment today, the one chemo he didn't get because that is every two weeks, so next week he will get it. He is have some better days, not great, but better and better is always good! Still getting fevers as well, but they aren't as high, but we have been keeping on top of them with the Tylenol and ice packs. Next week he will get everything in his treatment including the pump he will wear for 48 hours. But it will be done differently this go around. The pump gets dropped off here at our home and then a nurse will come to the house will hook hubby up and then will come back to take it off. Last time the nurse in the chemo center put it on for him and then we would go back in to get it off. It will be nice not to have to run back in just to get it taken off. Now it is a wait and see game, hopefully this treatment will shrink the larger tumor and make the smaller ones disappear like it did last time. So keeping the faith and fingers crossed and looking forward to better days with some normalcy. This care giver is getting worn out! But will continue to care for hubby as long as needed. The funeral for my mother went well and it was good to get together with family. DS has been home from college for a week now and it is good to have him home. I think. He still has boxes and his crap all over the house. lol He has been working in the fields and working at the movie house, so not much time for him to clean up his stuff. Hopefully soon! It is just finding a place to store everything until Aug. when school starts again. Hubby isn't able to get into the fields yet, so some of our sons are doing what they can. Hopefully soon hubby will be able to get in the tractor and go, he really needs to and I really need him to be able to do just that! 

There's a new challenge in town and it is called Muse-Christmas Visions. A designer team member posts a card and you are to take inspiration from that card. Here is the card that was posted by designer Kimberly Wiener:

Beautiful isn't it?! Well I happened to receive a box of watercolors from my Momma Mary for my birthday, wasn't that so sweet of her?!! Thanks Momma Mary!! I haven't done much watercoloring, in fact, I don't think I've done anything but smooshing with distress inks and a spritz of water. lol So this may very well be my first time watercoloring. And even though it isn't great, it isn't to bad either. I will take it! The inside turned out better than the outside did, but that's ok, I'm still pretty happy with it. I took Kimberly's card and kinda' CASED it-I did say kinda' didn't I? lol  So besides my new Koi Watercolors which are NBUS, I also used a NBUS stamp set that I won in a NBUS challenge by my Auntie Darnell! Thanks Auntie!!! I was happy to be able to play with some of my NBUS, got plenty  more to go though. 

Recipe:
watercolor paper
Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch box paints
DCWV Gold Foil paper
My Creative Time Stitched Rectangular Frame Dies and More
Stamplorations Holiday Sketches Christmas Flower stamp set
SU Vanilla cardstock for the card base
SU Gold Embossing Powder
Sequins from Peachy Cheap