Every Moment is a Miracle

Stamps: Hummer ( smARTworks)
Other: Prismacolor Pencils, Cuttlebug folder

I meant to send this in for the smARTworks quarterly card contest.

Hopefully next time, I'll get something in the mail. I'll have to put it on my to do list....
I'm glad I didn't have to compete with Sarah's card . Her fabulous card took home the top prize this time. See her blog post for the details on that card.

On a Personal Note:

What have I been doing over the last couple of days??? finally resting and reading. (The trick was saying I was going to have a work day-- still haven't done that work... ) I haven't made a card at all. I haven't even colored at all. That might not mean much to you, but for the people that live in my house, that's just shy of a miracle. I guess I only need one obsession at a time. I have a couple of cards to make in the next couple of days so I'll be back in "business" again with more blog posts in a couple of days.

Next week on the Hero Arts Blog is going to be really exciting (for me anyway). The Hero Artists (the big kahunas) are stepping aside to allow the Web Artists (neophytes) to have some blog time. We got to use the new summer release stamps. Fun, fun... Check it out starting on Monday. I'll let you know what day my stuff will be shown as soon as I know for sure. Right now, the plan is for Tuesday. Have a blessed weekend!

Chocolate Birthday

Stamps: (Rubber Romance), The Best Things in life(SU)
Paper brown print (Making Memories)
Other: color Pencils, Cuttlebug embossing folder, curcle punches
Finished size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4"

I never get tired of making a chocolate themed card. It's a little safer than eating chocolate all the time.
When I made this simple card it was going into my stash. I really don't have that many Birthday cards in my stash, because I usually make them with someone in mind.

I do have a special birthday today and I wished I hadn't been so busy that I forgot to make and mail a card in time. I may spend a few minutes today making a special card for my friend Beth who is 21 today! Beth is the maker of that Princess Jacki cartoon that used to be on my banner. She also designed the current banner on the Card Castle.

On a personal note: After the long weekend we had, I'm going to take a day off today. Wait let me check my calender first.... OK, I'm going to take the day off today. After I get dressed, I think I'm going to read or make a card (always an option). It's official! I'm EXHAUSTED!!!
I left here on Thursday and drove all day to North Carolina. On Friday I helped with reunion preparations which included shopping and cooking. We didn't so much in the way of celebrating the 4th of July, because we were preparing for the 5th of July. SATURDAY was the day of the reunion. Sunday, my sisters left the hotel before 6 am. I gave them permission the night before to wake me so that I could say goodbye, but then I couldn't get back to sleep. After we got up and loaded the car, the kids and I went out to breakfast with my mom and stepfather. I returned home from late last night after being on the road since just before noon. I returned home with a sense of satisfaction that I helped( a little) make this family reunion was the best yet! As with any family gathering it was not without some kind of controversy, but the for the ones who participated, it was the best we've had. I love it when a group of people can work together, utilizing the strengths of those participants-- especially when they are related. We've started a family blog and I'll be posting family reunion pictures as soon as I go and unload the car.... or tomorrow. My grandma was a delight as usual. She's 96 now. We left the talent portion up to the kids this year... Thank goodness. I was sooo tired of the Sister Sludge routine that my sisters and I do. LOL If you remember "We are Family" by Sister Sledge and add a sister, double their ages and sizes, and you have Sister Sludge. I'll have to show you a picture of it. I would not dare torture you... I mean me ... with the video of the performance.
I stopped on the way home to see a family in Florence SC. It's been 4 years since our families have seen them. I did stop and see them 2 years ago, but she hasn't seen my kids. Time really flies! Again... the camera is still in the car...
So, I think I'll start my day with a nap, and then I'll make a card for Beth.

I hope you are making and sending cards to your friends this week. I'm offering a little candy if you do so and respond to this post.

Have a blessed day! And to Bethie... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Jacki = purple??

First of all, here's my latest purple card.
Stamps: Cupcakes ( Hero Arts) I think I'm going back in to add some glitter.

And now on to the reason for the title of this post.

Twice in one week this has happened to me.

I clicked on Allison's blog the other day only to find my name mentioned. She says she thought of me while she made a purple, black, and white card. I'm glad she went on to clarify that I love purple. We can assume then that she thought of me because of the purple and not the "Quick and Dirty" as the post is titled.
And Friday afternoon, I looked at the Cookie Jar in my Google Reader and I saw a beautiful card made by Dina. She called the post " a jacki card ;)".
I don't mind being associated with purple. Purple is such a happy color.
After showing the cards I received after my surgery the other day, Susan Kessleman, sent me an email because she noticed the disproportionate amount of purple cards displayed. She is also a purple lover and mentioned the Purple Profile T- shirt she has. She then found the words online for me to read. I feel even more pumped up after reading this. If I didn't like purple, reading this would have changed my mind. According to this, all the positive adjectives in the dictionary are associated with purple. All you who don't love purple, come on over to the purple side....
Here's the link to the Purple Profile online.

You are imaginative, sensitive, artistic and sophisticated.

You have noble ideas and a keen appreciation of the cultural.
You are alert, demanding, foresighted, confident, resourceful, spontaneous and highly independent.

You take delight in the beautiful, the gracious, the sensitive, but maintain an attitude of critical appraisal.
In love, you seek to attain a magical quality and refuse to settle for anything else.

You refuse to be "swept off your feet" unless genuineness and integrity can be absolutely ascertained.
You are active in the support of things you believe in and are concerned with the pursuit of truth and other human values.
You take chances and believe that you must do so to make the most of what life has to offer.
Purple is an exclusive color, mystical in quality, blending the two extremes of the spectrum, red and blue. Traditionally, purple represents splendor, dignity, royalty, rank and wealth.
Purple is a unique color and it is a truly unique individual who holds it dear.

This is me all right-- ALL of it. (smile)

All this talk about purple reminding people of me reminds me that I never sent my sister a thank you card for the purple bag she sent me. (What a dunce!) She says she was walking through the store and the bag called her and said it needed to go to my home. ;) She'll be here next week, the least I can do is hand her a thank you card... I'll make a card for her tonight and show you the bag she bought for me when I post the card. If you've ever been to the Dallas, Texas area and shopped at Sam Moon, you'll know that the bag is fabulous. It looks like you can shop online these days.

Be Blessed and have fabulous weekend! Choosing Joy! Jacki

P.S. I think I'm going to participate in the Sketch Challenges from GinaK's release party last night. (challenge 1 and challenge 2) I love a lot of the recent designs she has. Asela is drawing for her now too! Several of the brand new sets are right up my alley. My budget would only allow me to have some of the sets I wanted, so maybe I can win another? Hope makes the world go 'round, doesn't it? Have you see her new stuff?
Ok, so my card making "to do" list grows... thank you card to sister for purple bag. Gina K Sketch challenges 1 and 2... I'd better get busy!

Thank You Tag

I participated in a tag swap. My tag is maybe 3 inches by 5 inches? I forgot to measure it.

Stamps: Darcies
Coloring Medium: Prismacolor Premier Pencils
Other:Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Thanks Folder, Circle punches, tag corner punch, ribbon

Movie Update. If you haven't figured it out my kids and I love to watch movies. Let's see since the last time I mentioned movies, I've seen a couple that I really liked. All of these I recommend. If you want details you can email me.

• Martian Child ( I watched this 4 times, excellent. I may have to buy this one one day.This is good for the whole family. We are still quoting it. Oh, and watch the special features and deleted scenes. )

The Bucket List ( I just watched this tonight, so far I've only watched this once. I already plan to watch it again tomorrow before returning it.)

Becoming Jane ( I haven't been a big Jane Austen fan, but some of my younger buddies have been. My girls have all read her books, like Pride and Prejudice etc. Makes me want to read her books now that I've seen a little of her life)

Music and Lyrics ( I like Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant-- cute and predictable... just like I like it.)

A Raisin in the Sun (really good, I missed this when it came on TV earlier this year. I heard that it was good, but I thought it was great. )

Grace is Gone. (Good, but really sad. This is not the kind of movie I can watch over and over again.)

I'm not much of a movie critic. My vocabulary is lacking all the adjectives and superlatives. If you've like movies I mentioned before, you'll like these. I know I'm forgetting one or two, but I'll save them for next time. I'm not a person who sits still easily, so just saying that I've seen something 4 times is saying something about the movie.

Have a blessed day! Choosing Joy! Jacki

Flourish Flowers

I changed my mind. The card I made yesterday went to those folk at the surgery center instead of my neighbor. This "so grateful" one goes to my neighbor.

Stamps: Flourish Daffodil, Flourish Bloom, and Heartfelt Messages (Hero Arts),
Ink: Memories Artptint Brown
Other: Notched Corner Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Embossing folders

On a Personal Note:
Dr says "it's all good"!
Here's how part of the conversation went...
DR: It's been two weeks, you can drive and everything now!
ME: I can drive!!!!!!!! ( I must have shown a little too much excitement because she quickly added...)
DR: short distances...to your favorite grocery store with a list... get in and get back out...
ME: (realizing my freedom came with a very short leash) ok I hear you...
I translated favorite grocery store into favorite store and went to Michaels for a few minutes with my daughter. I got my baskets!
Don't worry, I won't over-do. I don't have time for a set back. We've got a lot going on this spring and summer.
My oldest will be home for the summer in a few days after successfully completing her second year at college. Jillana, the next one, is home today to go to an interview at a college here in Atlanta for the Honor's Program. (Did I mention that she is transferring?) She'll return to school to complete her finals and then will be back home for the summer in about 10 days. I'll really proud of both of them.

I'm a little distracted today with my daughter and my friend here, so I'm going to go for now. Have a blessed day!

Spring Fever Challenge Day 1

I thought I would try to participate in the challenge Denise is doing this week at All things Stamped. Here is my entry. The flower image is from Darcies, the birds were done with a Cuttlebug (Birds and Swirls) embossing folder.

Today's challenge is to do a card with a bird image on it. She says, "It can be a stamped bird, embossed bird, or a bird in the pattern paper just find a bird, Get {creative} here and use any kind of bird....if it has feathers it's a bird. Your card must also have at least one layer and some ribbon.

I guess I was on a roll, because all the cards I made today, happened to have birds on it.

This is Dirty Bird(Hambo Stamps). The window for best day ever (Hero Arts) was cut out using a word window punch(SU). The "scallops" were done with the Fiskars Cloud paper edgers. I also used Groovy Guava card stock (SU) and printed paper (Chatterbox).

The branch, the bird, and best day ever are all by Hero Arts. I used Prismacolor pencils, white craft paint and liquid embossing( a product like Diamond Glaze).

My Last Class at Michaels

Pictures from my Stamping in Color II class last night. We concentrated on two complicated images. In the intro class they were introduced to several different techniques for coloring with the Prismacolors. I really wanted them to know what they can accomplish with the pencils. This time we colored the multi layered rose and the coloring images on dark papers as you can see in the first 4 pictures.




Stamps used are from the set called Pretty Amazing (Stampin Up). Prismacolors used: Colorless blender pencil, white, Lilac, Parma Violet, Violet, Limepeel, Chartreuse, and Olive.

I didn't start taking pictures until we were almost done, so I am showing you my rose in this last photo . I colored this right along with them last night. You can see how I layer the colors. Stamp used is "Jacki's Rose" ( Raindrops on Roses) Prismacolor pencils used: Colorless Blender, Jasmine, Poppy Red, Crimson Red, Tuscan Red, Chartreuse, Olive, Limepeel.

Simplicity

Good Thursday morning! I'm still playing with the stuff Hero Arts sent me while I wait for the supplies for my spring assignments. About this card the flower is a wood stamp, but this same image is also available as a slightly smaller clear unmounted stamp. I found that interesting because I have some ideas to use both(although I didn't here) on a card. The saying is a part of another clear set, that had a lot of potential with me.

Some days, card making doesn't flow. So I stop. I made this the same day as the previous card. That was one of those days. I put the card into the embossing folder the wrong way so the swiss dots are debossed instead of embossed. If I hadn't preprinted my signature information on the back of the card, I would have just turned the card inside out. But I've decided that I kinda like the look.

For today, I'm wishing for what this card says. Simplicity-- wishing, but working. I'm attempting to make my bedroom a relaxing place by removing all crafty things. As a part of my New Years Resolutions, I'm trying to have a more normal and regular bed time. When I take coloring or magazines upstairs with me, I tend to keep my mind going far longer that I need to.
As you can tell, I give myself all year to work on New Year's Resolutions. I think so many people make decisions about what they want to improve, but because they fail by January 10, they give up the idea all together. Since I've adopted this policy, I have made lasting personal improvements.
So, with that being said, my less computer more crafting is only half working. Lately, I've had more computer, more crafting and less housework. I didn't see that one coming....

After I'm finished with my sorting and purging, I'm going to be starting on my 'Book of Me'. My first page will fit in perfectly with the latest Salt challenge . I was planning to do a Princess Defined page for page one.

Ok, I'm headed back upstairs. I'm seriously working on that less computer thing...

Be Blessed! Jacki

Miscellaneous Birthdays

I'll still trying to use stamps that I've not used in a while. Here is one from my Snoopy Collection. I collect Snoopy stamps, but I rarely use them. What up with that? This is also my favorite Happy Birthday stamp. I haven't used it in a little while either. I love it because it reminds me of my friend Staci's very precise handwriting.

This is a result of attempting to clean off my desk. The different components were created at different times. This one needs something subtle. Ribbon? a button? hmmm....

On a Personal Note: I don't think I'm going to be doing very much card making this week, but I still have lots of cards from my marathon card making session on Thursday. If I feel like blogging, I'm well stocked.

I'm armed with my list of tasks and I'm trying to work in large solid blocks of time this week. One major project each day. Other than that, the only thing I have scheduled for this week is my Bible Study one morning and a class one evening. I'm starting to feel like I'm running out of time before the surgery. I won't be able to recuperate properly looking at all this junk. "Encourage me" to get back to work if you see me online too much...

Any prayer requests? I'm updating my Anybody Wanna Pray With Me post for March.

Choosing Joy, Jacki j

You can stand under my Umbrella, ella....

I don't think you can't be a hearing person on this planet and not know the song I'm referring to --Umbrella by Rihanna. I choose to listen to contemporary Christian music, but with teenagers in my world, it's hard to miss certain songs as they change the station on my car radio. The song is very catchy but have you ever really stopped and listened to the words?



Here is the chorus:

When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella.

You can stand under my umbrella.

I computer generated the sentence on the front and wrote this chorus on the inside.
ETA: Stamps:Bear (Penny Black)
Card stock: More Mustard , not sure about the purple
Coloring Medium: Prismacolor Pencils
Other: New Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Floral Fantasy ( Provo Craft), Ticket corner punch

On a Personal Note:
The image with the lady bug was a little hard for me to color after my lady bug fiasco this fall. We still have a couple left alive in the house. Most of them have died. The problem is some of them are dead in places that are impossible for me to get to.... it gives me the creeps thinking about all that got in here...
OK. I NEED to do some cleaning today. I've been neglecting some projects simply because I didn't feel like doing it. One of my favorite movies (Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr) is coming on TV in a few minutes, so I think I'll fold clothes etc while watching it. We bought our first new bedroom set (in 20 years) It's been here for 4 days now and I still have to fill the empty drawers.

My husband took my daughter to the college visit. We decided to send the 10th grader along instead of me. I get to stay here with the boys...

Here's to a productive day. I'm hoping to get to my C challenge later today. --Didn't I say that the other day??? Since my dinner is already cooked for tonight I just might make it happen today. Have a blessed day!

February Classes At Michaels

Remember this card? I was playing around with the stamps from the $1 bin at Michaels that I have at home. When I went into actually make my samples neither of those stamps were available. I . And here is what I managed to come up with what was available at Michaels.



We only have corner rounder and no other corner punches in the classroom so I used a scallop paper edgers (scissor) to clip off the corners. I was really amazed that most of the $1 Valentine's Day stamps are GONE. I should have pulled them for the classroom when I bought them for myself. Doesn't matter I guess, because I would have had to have them available for the students. They get mad at me if they can't go and buy the stuff we used in class. I chose these colors, but they are welcome to choose whatever color scheme they want. I'm also going to show them how to use the CuttleBug and embossing folders. (This is Cheaper by the Dozen class so they will make 12 cards. I'll have other sentiment stamps available in case they don't want 12 that say "I do love you")

For this card we will use gate-fold card blanks. I'm teaching embossing (with embossing powder and a heat tool). Again, they get to choose whatever papers they want. I was thinking for this card, that if I don't add a Valentine's Day sentiment, it can be used as an anniversary or wedding card. What do you think?

Birthday Blessings II

I had been struggling all day with matching papers to another "Birthday Blessings" cutout I did on the Cricut the other day. It was orange and yellow. Nothing in this entire room matched. Just like that, I decided to toss it and it was like a burden was lifted. After all, it's just paper right? So I decided to finish the remaining brown cut out with purple Bazzill card stock and then I went to bed.

PS. I think that card I posted yesterday grew on me. I really like it now.

Birthday Blessings

I had a hard time making this card. I've not been in a creative mood lately. I'm still on cleanup mode, sooo I'm super busy, but I wish I was more super focused....
I almost forced myself to make cards because I need a couple of January birthday cards and I wanted to use those pieces I cut with my Cricut the other night. So here is my first Cricut card. I also used a Cuttlebug folder that I've had here for months-- unopened.
( I probably need a purple fix to get me out of this slump.)

I think I'm going to have a contest in a few days. Look around your stuff and see what you have "brand new" but unused. The longer you've had it the better...

Got to get back to work!

Cake and ice cream image by Stampola (retired).

Birthday Party oops!

This card went together really fast because I already had the parts done.



My son was invited to a birthday pool party this afternoon. I bought a purple gift card from Wal-mart earlier this week and tucked it away in my purse. I also tucked away in the back of my mind an idea to use the flipper boy and pool girl from Hambo Stamps. Evidently I tucked everything away too good. I totally forgot about it until 30 minutes before he needed to leave for the party. I put this card together rather quickly with a background I embossed months ago and the Woodstock image (Stampabilities) I colored weeks ago. All I did today was punch the larger square from the embossed background and the smaller square from the dark purple background(Bazzill). I put the dark piece behind the embossed piece and the Woodstock behind that. He signed the card and was out the door.... Then I remembered the flipper boy and pool girl. (sigh) I'm going to make that card, but who knows when I'll have another pool party occasion?? Somebody else is going to get that card this summer, pool party or not!

Another episode of "As the Big Shot Turns"

ETA: My title comes from a suggestion by Trish a while back. A few months ago I was on a serious embossing with my Big Shot kick.

I updated my gallery yesterday afternoon. It's funny how easily I am distracted. There was a post on the Gingerwood stamping board this afternoon that made me think of my gallery, so I dropped what I was doing and updated it. A couple days ago, I was making that Pig in Chocolate card and almost finished, I decided that I needed to touch up the colors with my Prismacolor pencils. I usually color in my bedroom to relax at night where the lighting isn't great. The pencil I needed wasn't sharp enough, so I spent the next hour and a half sharpening all my pencils. ( Yes, I probably have too many.)

Anyway, I am in the middle of a cardmaking marathon and I really should be cleaning the house. I've made a lot of cards yesterday, but I think I'll show you you this one because it's been a long time since I embossed something. I was surprised that I still know now!

About the card: The background was embossed with the "Thanks" Cuttlebug embossing folder. The Tulip image was stamped with Brilliance and colored with Prismacolors. I also used the word window, the tag, and ticket punches. The only other accessory on this card is Bazzill buttons.

Back to the chatter:

Moving our first born out of the dorm wasn't the worst thing that ever happened to me, although it took a lot longer than I expected. We discovered that we have different definitions of "I'm ready" and "I'm packed". ;) We got her moved back in one trip!

I think this is open house weekend in our neighborhood so my goal is make sure the house gets to be picture perfect by this afternoon. Cleaning is going to throw a major monkey wrench into my cardmaking marathon. I made 9 or 10 yesterday and so far one this morning. I know things are going to get busy and there will be less cardmaking in the coming weeks, so I'll save them for another day...

Have a blessed day!

More Piggies!

Today was a cardmaking therapy day. I had a long list of things to do, but I decided I needed to make cards more. I've been playing with my piggies. No, not my toes, but Hambo's pig stamps! I thought this List Pig went perfectly with the Just a Note (pencil) stamp. The paper is Heidi Grace. I scalloped the circle behind the pig image with some good old fashioned Fiskars Cloud paper edgers (scissors).

One more little Piggie, and then I'm calling it a night!
This Artist Pig has her tools ready to go, but she is looking for inspiration! Notice the clean smock and paintless paint brush! She found her inspiration at Inkerbelle's! Her twin sister over there looks like a painting genius, or at least she was painted by a genius, a very modest genius, I might add.

Create, Inspire, and Artist Pig, are all Hambo Stamps. I dug out my Coluzzle to cut the oval windows, and a corner punch that I haven't used in a while. I used one of the Cuttlebug dies for the first time.

One day soon, I need to have a " put some cards in the mail" day. I have several Thank You's to get mailed. They are made, just not mailed.