Little things....

Hello my crafty friends, hope you are having a great ending to your week. Mine has been so so and right now I am taking care of my second to youngest granddaughter. So that will keep me occupied for until Friday evening when her dad comes to get her. 

CAS Mix Up is on it's second challenge and I thought I would try and play along. Luckily I had the stenciled background and leaf already in my box of things that I didn't use. So I just threw a card together. It looks like it too, but I will still use it. I had wanted the brick wall for a window frame, but do you think I can find my window frame die anywhere?!! NO! I know I'm over looking it somehow. Anyway if this isn't CAS enough Loll or Bonnie, please delete it! The challenge this month is to use a stencil, and stamping and other technique of our choice. So I have my stenciled background, and of course my stamping is my sentiment. The technique of my choice is the leaf, I used alcohol inks on the felt pad and pounced the inks on this leaf that was cut from photo paper. Been in my cast off box for over a year, so it is good to use it. Added some sequins and called it done. Not sure if my card pieces are considered snippets or not, so might go over to the Snippets Playground before the door closes. 

As always, thanks for stopping by for a spell. I've had some pretty weather this week and it was good to have visitors on nice days like these. Your comment are so special to me and bring me much joy and smiles. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Outside in the sunshine.

Up close of the alcohol ink.

This one was taken inside without any sunshine.

Recipe:
Leaf from Cricut Cartridge-Art Philosophy
Brick Stencil-not sure who it is by
Sentiment-Cardz TV Stamp Set Simple Thoughts - brand  new stamp set from Mary
Sequins-Pretty Pink Posh-Garden Party, a sweet gift from Miss Emma at MCT

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

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

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

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

Blessings Fall Like Rain

Hello my crafty friends, I hope you are having a great week thus far! My project this week for Cardz TV Gallery is a quick and simple one. With hubby being sick, my time has been spent running him to the doctors and taking care of him. We have to get his fever gone before he can do the study at Johns Hopkins, it has been a busy one around here. So I apologize that my project is plain, but I think it is a good one. The Cardz TV stamps I used on this card are:

I used Suburbia for my lady with the umbrella, I can't remember what cartridge I got the grass from, the clouds are from Disney and Friends, and the flowers are from My Quiet Book. I used Glossy Accents for my rain drops. Papers are from my stash and I have no clue who they are by. And that's it, plain and simple just like I told you. lol Have a wonderful week, we are hoping to get results from the blood work and port blood work. Then maybe we can get a plan on getting rid of this infection that hubby seems to have going on.

Thanks for taking the time to visit me today. I always appreciate your visits and your comments! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Floating Frame

Hello crafting friends, I hope your hump day is going well. It is rainy here today, so it makes for a lazy day, not necessarily a good thing. lol  I did a floating frame for some friend's anniversary along with a tag to hang from it. I will be apologizing to my friends, they are more like family to us, but I had all intentions of giving this to them for their anniversary back in Oct. Yes, back in Oct.!!! I had forgotten all about cutting it out and putting it on glass. So when I saw it, I got busy right away. The SVG file I used came from SVG Attic. I used a system's font for their last name that was in my computer and stretched and sized their name to suit my space, I also sized and stretched the SVG "M" to get what I wanted. I cut this on my Cricut Explore on the vinyl setting. It cut perfectly with the "kiss" cut. Using transfer tape, I placed it on the cleaned glass using my T-Ruler to get it as straight as I could. Trust me even with a ruler I don't get things straight, this is as good as it gets with me. lol

I then set to making the tag. I had a pre-cut tag that came in an order as a freebie, it also came with the flowers. So I took some scrap paper and dressed up the tag, added a bow I had already had made using scraps, I used the SU Bow Punch to make it. Then I stamped my sentiments on the tag, tape it on the back of the frame and let it hang over. The Cardz TV Stamps I used are "Congratulations" and "Count Your Blessings" and you can find them here. I crossed out the "I" and "my" to put "we" and "our". 

As always thank you for taking time out from your busy schedule to visit me. Your comments always make my day! Crafty hugs, Brenda

What's Up Doc?

Hello crafty friends, I hope you are having an awesome hump day. Can you believe Easter is right around the corner? So I decided I needed to get with it and make some little bunny containers for family. This one is a cute one! I got the file from SVG Cuts which has a lot of files in this one kit to make (with 3 containers and a couple of cards) and I'm looking forward to making the rest. But for now we will focus on this cute bunny container. It is a good size and will hold a lot of candy. I cut it out on my Explore and once I had it together I made a tag using the scallop tag punch from SU. I stamped my sentiments using Mary's Cardz TV stamp sets Mixed Messages, which is a new stamp set and Easter Punnies. I love how this turned out, it was easy to put together and didn't take long either. I will be putting candy in it to give out to our family members. Mary's Cardz TV Stamps made it so easy to make a cute tag for this cute bunny to give as an Easter gift. I will simply sign the back of the tag before giving the bunny out. I hope you get a chance to make something cute to give out for Easter! Make sure to visit Cardz TV Stamps to get your stamps, they are always perfect for that project on your list.

 the bunny's head comes off 

 spacious interior-will hold a lot of candy

Hello Crafty friends, I hope you are having a great hump day! Hubby's CAT scan was a wild one yesterday! First off he has to drink that chalky drink because they use the dye on him. Secondly, he got back there and the technician hooks up his IV, turns around to work on something else and when she turned back to him there was his blood all over the floor! The tubing had a crack in it letting the blood pool to the floor. Thirdly, while having his arms up and over his head, his face turned very red, which scared the technician so she called the doctor in. Hubby thinks that he just pinched off an artery or something like that. Anyway the doctor looked over him and let him go. I was waiting in the waiting room wondering what was taking so long. Well I found out when the technician walked him back out. She explain to me what had happened and then was going back to scrub up the blood. So glad she turned back around and they didn't drain his blood out of him!!!  Now we will wait to see what the scan shows.

It is my turn to post over at Cardz TV Gallery today. I recently had a SU party and I wanted a little thank you gift to place in the bags of my orders. So I made these cute bunny boxes on my Explore. I found it on the CTHM Artiste cartridge. I cut them at 7 inches, and I put 3 pieces of candy in them, a mint and 2 Hershey Kisses. On the spring color ones, I just stamped my "thanks" directly on the box, but for the white and black ones that wouldn't work, so I cut a tag out and placed my thanks on it instead. Aren't they dear?! The Cardz TV stamp set that I used was Heartfelt Wishes. I used the "many thanks" sentiment and just cut the "many" off. I can still put the stamp back together to stamp the whole sentiment if I so choose to. 

My next project is some boxes for Easter for my Grandchildren, still have to make another yet. I used my Explore once again with some Lori Whitlock files. My first time cutting SVG files and I have to say that I am loving using other files too! For these cute boxes, I used the CardzTV stamp set Easter Punnies, Birds and Bees and Easter Blessings. I stamped on a top note styled tag and placed it on the back of the boxes where I will sign "love papaw and grandma". These little boxes are just adorable and I will be filling them with some candy.

Thanks for take time out of your day to visit my little ole blog. I certainly love having you come by and your comments always make my day. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Think Spring! BBTB2 Challenge

Hello crafty friends, it is a busy Monday here. Taking MIL to see the radiologist to get her radiation treatments set up. She will be going everyday for 5 weeks and I will taking her. Hubby has a CAT scan this afternoon as his cancer marker keeps going up, so now doc wants to see what is going on. I don't understand how he can feel so good when the marker is going up. I sure hope that the CAT scan doesn't show the cancer is growing. This journey is still so stressful and now MIL has been added to the mix with her cancer. I swear they are going to put me in the grave. lol Yes, I'm being over dramatic, but it stressful for me.

Anyway on to why we are here for today. It is Monday as you all know that when Monday's roll around it's time for a new challenge over at BBTB2. My sweet friend and BBTB2 leader Susan has issued our challenge this week and she has chosen for us all to use a birdcage on our project. Not really sure how I wanted to go with this challenge at first, but then I got to playing around on the Explore design studio and just came up with my card. I welded a square doily from Mother's Day cartridge onto a square adjusting my sizing to make it the size of an A2 card base and cut it out in pink. I layer chocolate card stock behind the doily. Then I cut a birdcage out that I like, it came from the French Manor cartridge. I layered the birdcage onto a SB oval mat. Then I dressed up the doily and birdcage with punched out flowers using little Studio G punches-love these for when you want some tiny punched shapes. Then I added some liquid pearls to my flowers as well as added a MCT die cut butterfly to the cage. And lastly punched the word window shape from SU to place my sentiment on. My sentiments came from a Cardz TV Stamp set. I also finished off the inside of my card with another SB oval, some more of the punched flowers and my sentiment. 

I hope you will go over to BBTB2 to see what inspiration my DT sisters have for you and then I hope you will cut a Cricut birdcage to put on your project and link up with us. You know we love it when you get crafty with us!

As always, thank you so much for dropping by today. Your visits always mean so much to me and your comments really make my day! Crafty hugs, Brenda

 close up

Girl Power!

Hello my crafty friends. It is my turn to post over at Cardz TV Gallery and I have a simple project for you today.  My inspiration came from a fellow crafter, Sheila of lalacrafts. Sheila made a door hanger to hang on the bedroom door for when her grandson comes to spend the night. She is going to put some goodies in it for him when he visits.  I thought that was a great idea so I had to make one for our granddaughters who love to come and spend the night from time to time. Of course I had to do the Frozen theme since our granddaughters are so into this movie. lol I used my Explore and cut my box from the Art Philosophy and did a print and cut of the Frozen sisters from the Frozen cart. I don't think I have the print and cut feature calibrated quite right just yet, so will have to work on that. I kept this door hanger simple because the girls will probably want to play with it. I did put some clear bling on it because you have to have some "ice" on a Frozen themed project! lol I know winter should be winding down by now, but our winter seems to be still in full swing. I plan on making some other door hangers to fit the season we are in. I thought I would but some little goodies in the box or coupons of things we could do and they could chose from. The Cardz TV stamp set that I used is called Girl Talk and you can find it here. I though the "girl power" sentiment was perfect with these frozen characters and I want the granddaughters to know they have girl power just like Anna and Elsa. lol So a quick and simple little project but one that will give the girls some fun. Make sure to come back the rest of the week to see what else is in store for you. We have great designers and I know they will have some awesomeness for you! Crafty hugs, Brenda