Wowser.....October 1st Already!!

Hi there everyone. How are you all doing?!?! October 1st....my, how time flies. Sure glad August and September are gone, gone, gone!! Those were tuff months for me. JP was getting less hours at work, now we are reaping what has been sewn. 

Kylie was sick and we (or I) thought we would lose her. But she bounced back, she always bounces back. Vet did blood tests, and x-rays. ($400) They say, she may have cancer because they found a mass. She is not in pain the Vet says, so, we will just try and make her happy, with all her favorite things. She had a couple of seizures, but no more since the last one. I have been giving her hamburger and rice and she gobbles that up. Snubs her nose at Freshpet and Beniful….oh but hamburger and eggs..."two please" she says!! We will just go day to day with her. She gets around pretty good, is going blind and hard of hearing, but her sniffer still works good. So hard to watch a doggie go down-hill, but this little dog is a fighter and just happens to want to hang around a little bit longer. I have a picture of her at the end of this blog.

So following are some cards I made at Betty's. This seems to be my only outlet for now. The month of September I did not even touch making cards except for at Betty's.....not sure what is wrong. I need to get into the swing of things again. Hopefully, October will be a bit better for me. Card wise. Plus, I have a month to make cards for Hospice with the next meeting being November 2nd.

The end of this month I will be going to a Stamp Reveal party that I am involved with....someone sends me 6 images in 6 months and I do the same and we make cards from that image sent and cards from the image received...it's fun, but I am behind on that also. One more image to send, which I will do tonight.

I love the saying of the first card, "Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a Butterfly" Betty had the saying and butterflies stamped and embossed already. We colored them in, sponged and stamped the dots. Cut out the butterflies so you could see the black background and added sequins and speckles.

Let's see....if I can remember  how this card was made above. We used copic markers to color in the can, flowers and pots. The background was those stamped dots and sponged ink, the beige was copic marker, then we layered the papers and added the bow.

This next card was pretty and very simple. A circle cut out then sponged in the blue, from dark to light. Stamped the flowers and saying and embossed. The dragon fly is a die-cut. Guess you could use a butterfly if there are no dragonflies in your stash.

This last card is a tree with the leaves and 'Thinking of you" around the border of the tree and truck. The truck colored with copic markers and cut out. Easy-Peasy if you have the car and tree. So many times we make cards and I would like to make more.....but alas, I don't have the stamps to make the card at home. Bummers!

So here is a picture of Kylie going to the vet for her x-rays...we were just leaving the driveway and I thought I better take a few pictures, before I forgot. She looks pretty perky here. I had to take her in at 8:30am and leave her there till we came to pick her up at 2:00pm for the consultation. So yeah, I was kind of nervous to hear what they would say. It was soooo quiet in the house, I do believe it's the dogs and cats that make a house a home. Don't you think?!?!?!?

Well time to close here, I hope I am more diligent in blogging this month....guess I experienced a few days of depression where I did nothing cause things around me seemed to be caving in. I got tired of seeing Kylie sick and JP dealing with his arm pains and sore feet. God knows I need a vacation, but there was no place to run to.

Hockey is starting, so if you don't see me around, I will be watching Hockey or football....Go Blackhawks and Go Packers!!! Hockey my number one passion then football. I understand Hockey better then I do football....and hockey is so much faster and when there is a check....it can be crushing. One guy got hit so bad last night they are not sure the guy hitting the other will even be playing or will be suspended. Have not heard on the guy that got hurt yet.

Well time to close here, JP will be leaving for work at 3:45pm and work 4 hours, if he takes his full 4 hours....time will tell!

I have to keep looking up, as I always tell my readers, better days are coming and I am still waiting for that too!!! Cheers ~ Louise

Card's Made at Betty's Today

Hi there everyone.....Hope you had a wonderful day. My day started out with Blood and urine test at 11am....I sure cannot figure out my blood sugars. When I got up they were 160. By the time I got to the clinic it was 236 by the time I got home it was 210, I have not checked since. Hopefully my A1C will be okay (but I have a feeling it won't be). Anyways, I was done at 11:15, we got home by 11:30. I had a hard boiled egg, then left for Betty's.

Got to Betty's 12noon and we sat down to make these lovely cards. I took the pictures there, after each card, the background is lousy....just a white paper towel, I usually use white shiny material when taking pictures....there's the difference, much prettier.

This was the last card we made....but I am making it the first card.....such a pretty card. The trees and cardinals are die cuts, the background is a shiny green card stock run threw the cuttlebug and "Silent night Holy night embossed in white. Hopefully Betty can pick up this die cut for me at the convention this weekend.

This seascape card was fun, colored in with copic markers, glue was applied in the places where we wanted the glitter to show. The blue background was run through the cuttlebug as was the white background.......looks like I got it a little crooked there...oh oh.

Another fun card. All die cuts to make this card look like a penguin????

Now if you are a Packer fan....you would like this card. Packers have lost their last 3 games.....hope they get back into their winning form before it is too late!!! But this was a fun card to make, as are all the cards we make. Packer mouse in Packer colors, I got the cheese head a little too dark though....so I think it's more of a Cheddar cheese head. The mouse and fence were colored in with Copic markers. Betty had the sign made....she said, but I wasn't listening. I seem to get lost in coloring. The background was patterned paper.

Last but not least, another pumpkin pie. Nope, this one is all eaten up and gone....time to make another one....yum, JP won't complain.

Well, time to close this post, I need to get downstairs and make some cards. Hospice meeting is on the 2nd of December. We will be going out for breakfast...yum, can hardly wait.

I joined another group of card makers. It's called the "Secret Image Group". There are 19 participants. We stamp, emboss or die cut 14 of the same design/images. Make two cards with that image and keep it till the reveal party and one for your secret partner then send the 12 images to your secret image partner. I hope I got that right.

So anyways....something new will be added to my blog....Secret Images that I send and receive and the cards made through this fun new group. I am sure it will be fun.

Have a great day and keep looking up ~ better days are coming!!
Cheers ~ Louise

On the Mend and Ready 2 Join the Human Race (?)

Hi there everyone. Thought I would write a short post tonight. Watching the Green Bay Packers play the Seahawks, oh gosh the Packers are losing 17-13. I shall update you as we go along. With one eye on the TV and one eye on my typing, mistakes not included....hahahahahah!

So as my title says, "on the mend and ready to join the human race".....I think. Saturday, JP and I went shopping, probably walked more Saturday then I had the last two weeks. Whew, was I ever tired when we got home, but it was a good outing. Spent lots of money on food and did not even buy meat, just things that we were running low on. Had not shopped for two weeks, so needless to say, we are now stocked up for another few weeks.

Mingling with people was interesting....as I was walking really slow through the store, people were whizzing by me, they probably thought, "boy that old lady sure is slow," if only they really knew. JP was impressed that I knew where everything was and by all that I bought and surprised that I knew how to compare prices....geez JP, that's what I do all the time!!!!

Oops....forgot to update; Seahawks 17 and Packers 16 with 10 minutes to go in the 4th.  OH YEAH!!! Packers just scored...I think they just might win this....sorry Seahawk fans.

In the above picture is a "Blue Footed Boobie" That's how I felt walking through the store, people were watching JP and I for some reason and smiling.....wonder why??? They must have known JP was a novice shopper....right??!!??

So yeah....every time I get my ducks in a row, something always happens and off they go. Oh well, such is life. Least I don't shoot them like I would have in my younger years....hahahaha!!!

So this week I have an appointment with Dr. Flanagan for a check-up to see how the hernia is doing. Hope things are healing well, cause I could never go through that again.....so very painful. I think I might try making some cards this week....as I am starting to feel a little bored and needing something to do besides lay around. Guess that is a sign I am healing.

Today, we were talking about taking a day off next Saturday...that's about all we can afford, (bills are starting to come in and we are looking at 40K and that is not including the Doctor bills) maybe we will go to Neenah and sit by Lake Winnebago with a lunch and soak up some sun. If it is a nice day.

Well, there is only 3 minutes left and the Packers are winning 24 to 17.....there could be another touchdown!!

Packers Win 27 to Seahawks 17

So you all have a great week and keep looking up! Cheers ~ Louise

A Card Makin' Kind of Day

Hi everyone of you!!! Hope your day went well. Watching "The Taste" right now. Instead of just sitting here and watching...perhaps I should do a short blog too. "I loves" these cooking shows, some of these people must have 50 recipe books in their heads. To just know what works with what and some dishes are just so elegant. Right now they are choosing the best and worst tastes....think Jay will go home. Nigella will be down to 2 cooks on her team. (Yep...he went home)

Today was a good day....I ventured out in the cold....the temperature in the car said 8 degrees. It actually felt comfortable. I must be a hardened Wisconsinite!!! The weather this weekend is suppose to warm up to 30 degrees....a heat wave!!!

So today I went to Betty's house for a card making session. It's always fun to get a few new ideas.

In the above picture are the 4 cards we made, 3 bird cards and 1 doggie card. The doggie card was my favorite...I need to buy a doggie paw stamp, must keep my eye opened for one. The bottom card on the right was an interesting card to make. We used "onion paper" folded it like a fan and laid it on the card...rather a pretty effect. Now where do I find "onion paper"?????

This was my favorite card....the little puppy. He was colored in with copic markers. Finally getting the idea of working and shading with the copics, but I really have more to learn. The card was then layered with pretty papers and stamped with the doggie paw. The heart was popped up with pop-ups to give it a 3-D effect.

I liked the colors on this card...blue and orange (are those Chicago Bear colors????) Oh my.....Packer colors are better. Hahahhahaaha!!! Well, it was a fun card to make. While at Betty's, I stamped a little boy playing football and will be coloring him with Bear Colors for someone I know....I am sure he will like it. Maybe that would be a cute card to put on my Etsy store. The little boy playing football in the colors of all the teams in the NFL....something to think about for the new season.

Well, tis time to close this blog and get something done before JP comes home from work. So talk to you later and have a good evening, whats left of it. Keep looking up and keep warm. Cheers ~ Louise

Card Making and a Turkey

Hi everyone, hope you are having a great day. I love these Fall days, so beautiful with the temps a comfortable 70 degrees in Appleton, at the moment, so it says on "Weatherblink" I will take these days anytime, but I guess there will be scattered showers on Saturday. Guess we can use the rain.

I am planning to have a "one day garage sale" tomorrow. Friday's usually are a good day, still have some stuff to sell....hopefully more will go so I have less to pack away till the next sale, next year.

Well, as you can see by the pictures, I had my monthly card making session at a friends house. It's just the four of us, we meet the second Wednesday at high noon, there is lots of good talking and making of cards. In this picture you can see all three cards made and a surprise Turkey!!!

In the above picture is a "Birthday Wishes" card, a very simple card but very elegant. My problem always lies in that, I like the look, but cannot duplicate it cause I don't have the papers or punches or stamps.......oh well.

This was a fun card to make, just tabs of paper in different colors, a butterfly punch was used then fitted inside a different colored butterfly. (does that make sense??) Then strips of paper glued at the top and a greeting layered on top with gems to embellish the card.

Now here is that cute turkey made with a "Stampin Up bow making punch". I thought it was a cute idea, although I may not make anymore. The other ladies were making patterns so they could make more turkeys. I was busy making my turkey. By the time they started, I had finished my turkey....hummmmm, wonder if using tootsie rolls would be good for the legs. Maybe someday.........but I guess that one particular punch is about $32....to much for my blood.

In this picture is the football player....think I will give this one to Josh, as he is an avid football and wrestler....maybe next month I will see if Betty has this stamp and maybe stamp a few little boys for my inventory. I could make some for the little nephews in Illinois....but using "Bear colors" instead, green and gold would not work well in "Bear Country"...lol!!

Well, time to close and go take a walk with Kylie. She will be letting me know pretty soon that it is time. Then it is off to the basement to make some cards. I have hospice coming up, so I need to put 50-75 cards together and put a set of 12 note cards together for my Etsy store. Gonna be a busy night. Need to make a garage sale sign too, because at my last sale, a sign was stolen....geez, some peoples children!!!

Have a great night and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

Monday, Monday

Hi everyone....how is your Monday going so far??? Mine?? Okay, I am taking it easy today (hahaha) as I do every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc, etc through to the next Monday. Not really though, it's a beautiful day here in Wisconsin, at least this part of Wisconsin. Sunny and blue skies and the temprature is 62 degrees, perfect!!!

Well, we had a wonderful visit with family on Saturday. They were here for 6 short hours then headed back to Chicago. Original plans were that they would stay the night in a hotel...but it was Green Bay Packer weekend and there were no hotel rooms to be had in Appleton. So they left early in the morning to get here. Leaving at 6pm to get home.

JP and I have made trips like that also, leaving here early and going down to Chicago to visit then coming back the same day, it's about a 3 1/2 hour drive if you don't stop much....JP likes to drive, so it never bothered him. But, that was when we were in our younger years. Maybe now, not so much.

So we went to BJ Clancy's, it's a nice place that JP and I like to go to on our Birthdays...where one or the other gets a free steak meal. So we thought it would be fun to go there with the family. They seemed to like it, food and service was good. Sorry, no pictures.....gosh I didn't even get a family shot for some reason, what was I thinking????? I am a "picture kind of person" and what, I only took two pictures??????

It was raining all day....that was the crumby part, it was coming down in bucket fulls when we got to the restaurant.....and we all got wet!!! But we laughed it off. Now if they would have come yesterday, it was a beautiful day.......what a difference a day makes, but a perfect day for the Packers (oh Packers won, beating the Detroit Lyons 22-3).

So this week, I may have a 1 or 2 day garage sale, as long as things are still set up and maybe next week also. All depends on the weather though. According to my books I did the same thing last year, it was a little chilly, but I did sell a few things. The less I have to put away, the happier I will be.

Well, I think I shall close here, I am sort of wandering around, so you all have a great day and a great week and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise

February~~What's on Your Calendar??

Does You Sink Anybodis Can Sees Meeee?

So I am sitting here, watching the Baltimore Ravens and San Fransisco 49er's. I really didn't care who win's.......but now I seem to be rooting for the Ravens.....mostly because the 49er's beat the Packers!! BUT, the lights went out and now the 49er's got 2 touch downs within minutes........Boooooooo!!! Gosh those 49'ers are so cocky!!! Well, I am still hoping for the Ravens. I will let you know who wins at the end of this blog. It just may take that long for me to finish. One thing is for sure, I am sure loving these commercials.....just saw the one for RAM....Paul Harvey speaking about "God Made a Farmer" that was a good one!!!! Go Ravens!!!!!!!

So, what's on your calendar this month??? My calendar is pretty much blank at this point, but for sure I have to get my taxes done this month. Gosh I hate that job of getting everything together to itemize. Once I get going and get organized I will be okay....it's just getting started that is the hardest.

Kylie has an appointment to get her "shower and shave" on the 7th, hope it is a nice day and no snow. I think we have had enough for a while, would be fine with me if it all melted. Well, it will be 2 months since we had Hyko put to sleep, I still have not gotten over it, and Kylie still looks for her friend. She does not like to be alone. I bought Kylie a little white doggie for Christmas and she really likes it. I think she needs a white doggie for downstairs to keep her company when we are gone. Maybe I will make a trip to Thrift store this week to find her a stuffed friend to keep her company. (oh oh 49ers just scored again!).

The second Tuesday of each month I usually go to Betty's for card making, $14 to make 4 cards. 9am is pretty early for me, especially when I go to bed at 2:30am in the mornings. Once I get rolling I am fine. I like going there, cause I get lots of good ideas and the fellowship is good too. I have some cards that I am working on....birthday cards for little kids. Once I get some done and under my belt, I shall post them here and in my Etsy store. I bought some punched out balloons in multi-colors to add to my "Kid Birthday Cards", looking forward to receiving them soon. Will be sending out my Valentine cards in a few days, certainly have alot made and some new ones in my Etsy store: www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com

I guess one of the things that needs to be taken care of this month, is a Dr. appointment for me. Had my blood done on the 14th of Jan and tests came back that my blood was elevated. Dr. wanted me to come in to see him.....have not made an appointment as yet, why is that always hard to do. Not too anxious to see him, my blood pressure always goes up when I have to see him. We joke that it's the "white coat syndrome" but he usually does not wear a white coat. I think just the thought of seeing him, my body stresses!!! Hey did you know that "stressed" spelt  backwards is "desserts" maybe that is what I need to eat before I go into the Dr's office...a delicious dessert!!! Maybe not, my blood sugars would probably skyrocket!!!!

The score: Bal 34 ~ SF 31 in the 4th with 1.42 seconds to go....................Go Ravens!!!!! What an intense game....11 seconds to go....now 4sec. Looks like SF is praying really, really hard, such intense looks on the faces of the players........who's going to win?????? RAVENS WIN!!!!!!!!! NEXT YEAR'S WINNER'S IT'S THE GREEN BAY PACKERS!!!!!!! GO PACK!!!!

Time to close this blog for tonight and get it up for tomorrow. You all have a great week and a great month, hope it is not too stressed.....if so, have lots of DESSERTS to counter act the stress! So keep looking up for  your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

U-Caught-My-Eye

Got one of those great messages this morning that made my day. One of my Card sets made it to a treasury. If you will go to: www.etsy.com/treasury/4d434e21752b6d91b5cbd589/u-caught-my-eye you can see my cards there....Flower Power!!!!

Gosh that was a long address, but, yes that long address will take you to the U-caught-my-eye treasury........enjoy! The other artists are from Wisconsin also, so have fun browsing.

Will be adding another Valentine card to my Etsy store tonight, perhaps that will be all I will do for Valentines. Next on the agenda is making St. Patrick Cards, I am not irish, but still in all, aren't we all Irish when St. Pat's comes around? Go Green and gold......Go Packers!!!!

Have a great day...........cheers........Louise