Mojo114 Sketch Challenge

I had fun tonight doing another one of Julee's sketch challenges. This one is for last week's Mojo Monday sketch. I really like this cute little penguin so I decided to incorporate him into my card for a whimsical touch. I freehand-cut the scalloped edges on the top border and added the doodles. Aren't y'all proud of me! lol :)

This is the sketch that I followed.
Well, it's time to call it a day. I'll post more cards tomorrow night.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Mini Penguin (Stampendous)
Cardstock: China Red Linen (CRS), Flat Black (CRS), Flat White (Staples)
Patterned Paper: ? ...I forgot write down who makes it before I made the card, but apparently the piece I used is glued to my card base with the name on it! Oops! lol :)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), #14 - Carmine Touch Marker (ShinHan Art)
Tools: White & Black Gel Pens (Signo), Cuttlebug, Classic and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Circle Custom Cutting System (Creative Memories)
Embellishments: Black and White Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (Dollarama)

Chinese Lantern and Stamped Holiday Candle

Well, I'm not quite sure where the week went...but, I guess since I've had something on the go every night this week after work, it's made the time fly by. Then, my oldest daughter went to Brownie camp this weekend, so we decided to take the opportunity to hang around the house with our youngest daughter and do some pre-holiday cleaning and go through toys to donate to less fortunate families.

I had a great night this past Thursday. I met with my local group of stamping friends for an awesome crafty night. Louise led us through a beautiful little Chinese lantern and Deborah demo'd a beautiful stamped holiday candle. We had such a fun night together, it's a wonderful group of ladies and I'm so happy to be friends with them.

This is the Holiday Candle that we did using some of Suzanne's gorgeous calligraphy stamps from QuietFire Designs. The candle is 1.75 inches in diameter and 5 inches tall.
A close up of the holiday sentiment.

This is the Chinese Lantern that we did using cardstock vellum and a battery operated tea light inside. The lantern measures 3 1/2 inches square by 2 inches x 2 inches square.

I have lots of other cards to show you, I'll post them tomorrow night after I take pictures of them all.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Back at home

I'm back home. I drove home with the girls yesterday and got home last night in time to put them to bed. It was a long week getting all the arrangements made and dealing with talking to so many people at the wakes and the funeral. Jim stayed up to help his Dad to go through some things in the house and to help with some government paperwork. He'll be heading home tomorrow on the train. Thank you from both Jim and me for all the kind notes we've received with your thoughts and prayers. We really appreciate them all.

I was supposed to go back to work today, but I woke up with a terrible headache and I was just plain exhausted from the past week. I didn't realize until we got home last night that the girls actually had a PD (Professional Development) Day today so no school for them. I had arranged for them to go to the sitter today, but when I got up not feeling well, I decided to just stay home and keep the girls myself. I knew they could use a restful day, too. They head back to school tomorrow and I'll be returning to work...with lots to do, I'm sure!

I haven't had a chance to get much done in the line of craft work. I did a couple of collages up in New Brunswick for my Mother-in-Law wake for people to look. I think they were well received. I do have several cards on my to-do list, so I'll be doing those up and posting them soon. So, I'll have to ask for your patience a little while longer. lol :)

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

MIL has passed on

Just a quick note to share some sad news. We returned back to New Brunswick on Saturday to be with Jim's mother as we were told she took a turn for the worse. All three of her boys and the daughter-in-laws we able to spend Sunday with her and be by her side and she peacefully passed on at 11:45 pm on Sunday night. We've been busy planning the wake for tonight and tomorrow and the funeral will be held here in the Miramichi on Thursday afternoon.

I'm sad that's she's gone, but she was suffering at the end and didn't deserve to be in pain. She's at peace now and we'll all remember the good times and laughter we had together. She was a very kind woman who had a lot of people that cared for her and she'll be missed but not forgotten.

Sadly, we got a call from my brother last night and his wife lost her dad within 5 minutes of when my MIL passed away. He's been suffering for a while now with a brain tumor and God decided it was his time to go, as well. My thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.

We'll be back home next week. Thank to all those who have kept us in their thoughts and prayers, as well. It's very much appreciated.

Debbie's 200,000 hits blog candy

Debbie is offering up a huge blog candy in celebration of her hitting over 200,000 hits on her blog. Big congrats to Debbie! She does beautiful work and she does the most fabulous colouring! Hey, go take a peek for yourself! Here's the link to her blog.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

Some Family Pics

On a happier note, my friend, Chere, brought over the portraits tonight that she took last week. I'm really pleased with how they turned out of the girls, lots of really cute shots. Here are some of my favourites...

This is my youngest, Natalia. She'll be 6 years old in a few weeks.

This is my oldest, Alexandria. She just turned 8 years old a few weeks ago.

I love this one of the two of them. I thought it was a neat idea to hold the picture frame in front of them.

Another one of the two of them.

And a family shot, too. Believe it or not, this is the first family shot we've ever had done together.

Some more black and white and sepia shots...



If you're local to the Metro Halifax/Dartmouth area, Chere does portraits in her basement studio or she also does off site shoots. She's a super sweet person and she does a great job and offers really reasonable rates. Her business name is Chearle Photography. Here's the link to her blog for more samples of her work.

Thanks for stoppin' by! :)

MIL in ICU

Well, it never rains but it pours...more bad news here. We spent the weekend with my MIL at the hospital. She's on life support in ICU. She went in to liver failure and suffered a heart attack. She's showing some signs of improvement, but it's going to be a long road. Jim and I spent the weekend with her while my Mum watched our girls here at our house. My MIL is at a hospital in Moncton, NB a 2 1/2 hours drive from us. We had to come home last night so that Jim would be here this morning as he was scheduled to report back to the Base hospital for them to check on his broken tibia and to get a new cast put on. He was granted more time off for compassionate leave and they've given me the rest of the week off, as well. We'll be leaving first thing in the morning to head back up to Moncton for a few days to be with Jim's Mom. I won't go into all the issues with you, but she's got a long road to recovery ahead of her. Hopefully I'll have something positive to share with you soon. Please keep her in your prayers that she'll come out of this ok.