Hospice Cards for February 3rd.

Hi there everyone, been awhile since I last blogged. No sorry's, just not much to talk about, I guess. Since Jay's death 16 months ago (now where has that time gone?) life has been quiet but there has been a lot of hoop jumping for me. And I do so hate the hoop jumping at times. Going around and around and getting no place.

Making cards has been at a minimal because the inspiration has been probably at about 45-50%. I look at a lot of ideas, but none click. I had a lot of Christmas cards made for Hospice, but then, I came down with the flu, or was it Covid, or was it a virus....I just don't know, but I was out of commission for 6 weeks, after which I finally started feeling better. It took a lot out of me, wonder where I would have been if I had not gotten that one shot, no, no boosters, just one shot and I got it when Jay was about to enter the assisted living. I thought, better get the Covid shot or assisted living people won't let me in to see Jay. I did run into a couple of times that the nurses almost did not let me in to see Jay, but only after they realized who I was and who I was visiting.

So, I missed the December meeting and now the next meeting is on the 3rd so for the last couple of weeks I was into making Valetine cards and using different techniques as you can see by some of these cards.

The 1st card is embossed, and I just added a cardinal at the bottom....pretty simple. The 2nd card is an old valentine card that I ran off on my copy machine, then fussy cut and glued onto some fancy background cardstock.

Now the above cards were kind of interesting to make as it was an idea from Simon Hurley. I found my stencils and placed the stencil on cardstock and taped it down so the cardstock would not move. Then smudged with ink where I wanted color, lifted the stencil and "wah lah" this was the result. Check out Simon Hurley on YouTube, he has lots of great ideas.

"Sending BIG hugs" card is from a card kit from the UK. I have had this in my stash of stuff to make for a couple of years and finally put them together. Sent 2 cards off to someone in VT and one to WI. They were so cute; I could not resist.

Valentine cards are so much fun to make. These are a few I put together with odds and ends I had sitting around. Of course, the bottom two are copies from the original Valentine cards which I copied, fussy cut and glued to the background.

Now these were fun, the backgrounds are from a pad of cardstock, probably in my stash for a couple of years and finally used the cardstock. The flower is from Stampin Up. Embossed with gold, pretty flowers with many ideas for using it.

Now this was a fun technique and another Simon Hurley idea. Using a 3-D embossing folder, the inside of the folder was inked (ink the indented side) then spray with water, place cardstock in folder and run through the cuttlebug or whatever machine you have. Take out of the folder and let dry and run the process over again. I am going to try this technique today with another 3-D folder I have using multi colors. Want to see how it works.

Last but not least, I had these 4 prints from wherever I received them, cut them out and placed them in a frame, simple but pretty. Well, now I suspect, if you are still with me, you probably got bored and clicked on to the next blog....that is okay, this is getting pretty long and anyways I am ready for it to come to an end. I need to get started on doing some work around the house.

So, I had 61 cards made for the January meeting and now that I have an extra 4 days to make cards, I shall try for 75 cards total. That would make a record for me as I usually make 50 or so cards.

Well, I shall close this blog before it turns into a BOOK!!! Here's hoping the weather by you is not so cold and with little snow. It's supposed to be sunny and cold here for the next 5 days, that will be nice. You all have a great February and keep warm and looking up, Jesus is coming soon!!!! Cheers ~ Louise
 

Cards I Made the Other Night

Hi there everyone. Thought it was time to change the winter scenes....to something Spring-like!!! The weather is beautiful outside...sunny and in the 60's. It actually feels WARM and I turned down the heat in the house. Maybe I should bring the fan up from downstairs. Was looking at air-conditioners today at Walmart....guess I must save my pennies for a new one this summer. Our old air conditioner conked out, it never really cooled down the room and then it started spitting at me. So, I think it is time for a new one.

I made these Spring like cards last week. Need to make more....they were a very easy process and fun to make.

First I stamped the "Thinking of You" and "Happy Birthday" then taped the verses with painters tape.

Next step was to ink the top and bottom of the card with Distress ink....any colors you might have, after I got the desired look, I then sprinkled the cards with water to get the water spots. Dabbed with a paper towel to pick up the water. Let them dry for awhile.

I had these flowers already colored. The flower is from Stampin'up, I fussy cut out each flower. Each petal, I drew lines and colored in the tips of each petal with an ink pen. Then took copic markers and finished the petals off with different colors that would coordinate with the colored card.

WA-LA....a very lovely card. Think I will make some more like these for Hospice. I have two weeks to get about 60 cards done and 20 favors for Fathers day. There's still time.

Yesterday I went to a Revealing Party. For 6 months I took part in a secret stamping group. You send 12 images, could be a stamped, die cut or back ground to the name you received. Then make 2 cards with that image, one for your self and one for the person you sent the images to. Someone has your name and has done the same. So I came home with 6 cards from the lady I sent images to and 6 cards from the lady that had my name. Making sense much???

When I get the pictures taken of the cards, I will put them on my blog. My card and the other ladies take on the image sent and vise versa. I should add, that the reveal party was at a new stamping store in Neenah, and we could buy anything we wanted and get 10% off....dangerous place for me to go. Yes, I bought something, musical notes for another card I am making.

Well time to close here, JP just left for his job. I got our dinner planed out.....spare ribs in the pressure cooker....they turn out soooo good. Talk to you later...have a great night and keep looking up, better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

Solar Sun Fountains and Kylie

Hi there everyone....hope you had a nice Father's Day Week-end. We had a nice one. Quiet with a little bit of work mixed into it.

JP's Father died in the 90's. My father died in 1961. My step-father just died last month. I got through it though with not too much pain and sadness. Pops has lived in Las Vegas since '86 and I probably saw him 4 or 5 times in 31 years. The last time was when my mother had died in 2001 and I went for her Memorial and her ashes were spread in the mountains of Las Vegas. A lady friend (who they grew close to and called her their daughter) spread my mother's ashes and she planned on spreading Pop's also. She knew I would not be coming out there, so she would take care of it. End of a chapter in my life.

On to happier news. So this is part of my back yard....it's coming along nicely. I bought this new Solar Sun Fountain, in the red planter. It came all the way from China....really cute I think....I moved it today, so it is in more sun. Doesn't work well in shade.

This little fountain, I picked up at a Plant Sale in May. Paid $1 and the pond container was free. The above fountain......$30 and the container $15.....my splurge. Love my Flamingos, they like the pond too.

Kylie came for a visit while I was playing in my little garden. Yesterday I finally put up my bamboo fencing for a little bit of privacy from the neighbors stuff that I have to look at everyday from my Kitchen window......sometimes gets depressing. The  neighbor lady says that sometime this summer they will be putting up a taller privacy fence.....can't be soon enough for me. I will take pictures of my new bamboo fencing as soon as I get the second section up. What I have done so far....looks really good.

I might have too much in this little section, but when I sit on my bench, I am always looking at everything and deciding if something should be moved or a weed pulled....sitting on my bench does not last long.

Looks like in both these pictures that Kylie is enjoying the little fountain also....probably the sun feels good on her back. I should take lessons from her on how to just stand around and relax.

I have one tomato plant growing in a pot....it's getting pretty big and needs lots of watering. Beefsteak...looking forward to those BLT's.

I have some Beefsteak tomato plants growing in the front of the house and one between the two garages. This year I shall see which place grows the best tomatoes....I want to get a cucumber plant....but have not been able to find one. I wonder, is it to late to start some seeds???

Went to Menards today and got a Wave Petunia plant, Sweet Basil plant and a Mosquito plant....sounds interesting. I might plant it by my park bench, so I can enjoy my backyard. There is still so much to do....like I said, by the time I get things done, Fall will be here...oh well.....then comes winter and we start all over again.

Well, time to close here, it's going on Midnight and I still have not gone downstairs to work on a few cards. I got another Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin' up yesterday and made a few cards from that kit....I should take some pictures real soon.

You have a great day, keep looking up, better days are coming.

Cheers ~ Louise

A Few Cards for Hospice and a Mini Misti

Hi there everyone...how was your day today. It was a little bit warm today...weatherman said it would be in the 90's....uge, too warm for me. We did not start working in the yard till about 5:00. Actually that is my usual time when JP is working....my energy level does not raise till about then and I can get loads done in those few hours before it gets dark and the mosquito's start biting.

Well, this past week I was working on cards for the Hospice meeting yesterday. The cards below were cards made for 4th of July. I made 22 cards for this event. I may use the same design for Veterans day cards in October. These were fun to make.....and a few ladies asked how I made them using the embossing folder and strips of red, white, and blue papers.

So in this picture is the Mini Misti that I won....it sure has come in handy and so much fun to use. I saw a tutorial on YouTube where they showed "10 ways to use the Misti". I shall have to write them down, as Betty wants me to do a short "show and tell" about the misti at her house at next card meeting.

In this picture of the 6 flowers and the one above, I used the Misti. It's a layered technique, the stamp has 3 layers, using different colors for each layer and then the stem and saying are stamped also.

This is a quick card I made....ran the pink and yellow paper through the crimper, then punched a butterfly....negative and positive....with a Happy Birthday and Thank You for the saying. This could be my "go to" card when I need a fast card to make.

These are my scenic picture cards.....I made a bunch of these cards up, different scenes for Birthday and Thinking of you.

Just one of these cards in the collection....I did make two, but held back on one because I want one for a sample to make some more.

My stained glass sail boat stamp. There are so many ways to color this....reminds me of the Adult coloring books....makes for a nice card, and I added a "thanks" die cut.

So, there you have it....just some cards I made for Hospice. We have a two month vacation from Hospice and back together again in September. Then we have to have Veterans and Halloween cards made. I am not much of a Halloween fan....so there will be very few in my collection....maybe mostly Fall cards for this girl.

Time to close, I want to go downstairs where it is cool and make some cards. So talk to you later and have a great weekend. Keep looking up, cause better days are coming.
Cheers ~ Louise

Some Hospice Cards

Hi there everyone. This will be a quickie post. (I am thinking) As you can see, I have been busily working on some cards for Hospice. The meeting is next Friday, sooooo, I need to get a stock pile of cards made and get some Father's day cards made also.

The stamps above are from Stampin'up, I really liked the way the cards turned out, I may not give them all to Hospice, as I can think of a few people that need a card on my end.

When I was rummaging through some old card stock, I ran across this froggy and thought he would make a cute card. "Never, never throw things out, you never know when you can use them again." That should be my motto, as I think this guy has been hanging around for a long time and he finally got made into a card.

In the above picture is my new die cut from Stampin'up called "Rose Wonder" I have the stamp that goes along with this die cut, but I rather like the effect that this gives. Makes for a nice Birthday card.

Here are my "crazy birds" from Tim Holtz.....I had them laying around also and thought they would go good on these cards....again, never throw anything away.

These are some quick Thank you cards, using washi tape and graph paper for the background and my die cuts and butterflies to embellish the cards with a few sequins.

Well that about covers it....next post, maybe some Father's day cards. So tomorrow I am getting a box from Blue Apron....I look forward to that once a month. It's like going to culinary school for 3 days and learning and tasting something new.

You all have a great couple of days, I'll post something about Blue Apron. Oh and by the way.....I am still in mourning about my Chicago Blackhawks losing and not going on to win the Stanley Cup (sob).

Keep looking up....better days are coming (I keep telling myself that, but I am still waiting.)
Cheers ~ Louise

Cards and Blue Apron Steak and Apple Salad

Hi there everyone. Oh my, was it not a BEAUTIFUL day today??? Tomorrow is going to be even warmer and sunny....hard to believe this IS November!!! But you can bet....by the 21st of November, (my birthday) there will be snow....some place and most likely there will be snow here!!!

Been working on some cards lately. I got this idea from Lydia @ "Understand Blue" her address is: http://www.understandblue.com I fell in love with this card and the technique she used with distress ink, water and brush. My card does not quite look like hers.....but that is okay...no two cards can be a like. She did not use sequins and I did. I think it turned out nice, probably will make some more of these for Christmas this year. This card, will be going on my Etsy store tonight. Will be selling this for $3.50 + shipping.

This is one of Tim Holtz's birds...I just love them and they can say anything you want. He is pretty fun, colored him in with Copic markers and sponged the edges with ink. He too, will be going on my Etsy store for $3.50 + shipping.

This is another Tim Holtz stamp set. The leaves are from Stampin'up.  The technique used was shaving cream and alcohol inks. After the card dried then I stamped with Tim's stamps. The leaves are gold embossed to add a touch of elegance. Putting this card in my Etsy store for $3.50 + shipping.

Okay...this was another tasty meal from Blue Apron. "Sumac-Spiced Steak & Honeynut Squash with Pickled Onion & Apple-Walnut Salad"

I loved the apple salad, so simple but tasty. One apple was cored (skin left on) and diced small, toss with the juice of 1 lemon wedge to prevent from browning. The rest of the lemon was zested, and added to the apple salad. Also added to this salad was 2 tablespoons of chopped up walnuts, 1/4 cup feta cheese and mint, finely chopped just before adding to the salad. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Yep, this is a 5 star salad!!!

The steak was a little tough and the butternut squash was good, but I put too much spice on it to make it a little too hot.....guess it was the sumac seasoning (ground up sumac and crushed Aleppo pepper), salt and pepper would be just fine. The squash was sliced, drizzled with oil, salt and pepper and roasted in the oven for 20-25 minutes till browned....yep, this was good too.

The pickled onions were very tasty on the steak....I would do the onions again, but less sugar. The pickled onions were made with onions, sugar, a pinch of salt, the juice of a lemon and 1/4 cup of water. Heat to boiling on medium-high. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion has softened and the liquid is slightly reduced in volume. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and set aside to pickle for at least 10 minutes.

Well, time to close this post for today. Need to get a few more cards made for Hospice this Friday. It's been 4 months since my last meeting....been a while. Will be fun to see the ladies again.

You all have a great day and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

Well....wha'du-ya know??????

Hi there everyone.....well....wha'du-ya know???? Came home from church, went on the computer and WOW!!! I had a transaction from Etsy!!! Yay that made my day. It has been awhile since something last sold. Now I just have to wait to see if the transaction goes through and it was not a fluke. I tried emailing the lady and her email failed and did not go through. So I convoed her through Etsy....shall see if she answers. I can tell I am her first seller that she is dealing with. I hate the thought that this could be a scam or something. I just won't send the item till I know the transaction goes straight into my account. Guess I should be a little bit more trusting, but I am not.

Yep.....Monday is upon us again.....GRRRRRRR!!!!!! We have a Net Health nurse coming tomorrow, she is going to check out our meds, do blood pressure checks, blood sugar, check my feet and ask questions, listen to our hearts and what ever else. I guess she will want to know about the tests and operations I had this year too. Oh and talk me into a mammogram....next year thank you after I pay for these past medical bills. Least now, she can't tell me to have a colonoscopy, cause I had that one already.

Tuesday, I have to take my computer in for a check up, it's been over a year since this computer was checked out as it seems a little sluggish on some programs. But on other programs, she works fine. Also, I will have Windows 10 installed professionally. It seems I have to check with HP to see if the settings are okay to install 10....sounded too confusing to me, so I decided to take it in. I possibly will have the Office program installed for $150 and MAYBE the Adobe program too.....not sure as yet. So if you don't see me for a few days, that is why. We are getting an up-grade.

So, here is another funny dog "Monday Morning" picture.....aren't they funny???? Maybe this is what I will look like on Tuesday though. Who knows.

I saw this doggie picture a few months ago....thought he was a cutie....I love fries, I think that is my excuse too...exercise is just too hard, I would rather a few extra fries. I have lost some weight, 40 lbs since last year this time. I do feel better and would like to lose another 10 lbs. But since my Hernia operation, I have noticed a few lbs creeping back on the scale......oh-oh....I better say STOP LOUISE!!!!

But I enjoy my cooking way too, too much....last night I made a roast in the oven with baked potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Oh my, it was delicious. I had marinated the roast for about 30 minutes then sliced some mushrooms and sat the roast on the mushrooms, then covered the roast with tin foil and set the oven at 500 degrees and baked the roast for 10 minutes then turned the oven off and let the roast sit in the oven for 1 hour. After an hour I took it out and OH MY was that meat tender and still pink on the inside, delicious roast!!! Yes, that is the way I shall cook my beef roast from now on....perfecto!!!!

Next Sunday, after church I will be going to a Stampin'Up Camp....can hardly wait. I ordered a stamp set already and got 15% off on the set if I ordered it before the 23rd....so that was a good deal. The stamp set will help me make my Christmas Cards this year, which will be very simple.

Well time to close here.....I was going to make this a short post....but I guess it did not make it into the "short" category, did it??

Have a great week and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

Some Cards I Plan on Making

Hi there everyone. Are you enjoying your Sunday evening??? It's Downton Abby night at 8pm, so wherever I am with this blog....I shall then go and watch it....I'm a fan. The blog can wait.

Valentine's Day Card Give Away. Don't forget to leave a comment at the end of this post...even if it is just to say "Hi...how are ya". For every comment you leave, your name will be added to the bowl of names. On February 8th I will pick 4 names. If I don't have your address, I'll email you for it if you are one of the winners. I'll then  send you the Valentine Card that is in my header. (Maybe not that one, but one like it.)

Thought I would post some cards I am planning on making. Note: these cards are not what I have made...but are cards that I have seen on Pinterest and copied to my files for future use. All these cards are made with the Stampin' Up Stamps called "Works of Art" I think this is the most versatile stamp set I have ever seen. I love something that has lots of uses, it tickles my creativity.

These two cards will be good for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran's Day....will be fun to make.

Both of these cards, using the same set, two different ideas in making sail boats.

Most of you have seen this card...I made it for Christmas this year....Mr. Snowman was lots of fun to make.

Here is another card for Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran's Day. So many ideas, aren't there???

This was a fun card....Made this one as a Valentines Card and added them to my Hospice box...very fun to make.

Last but not least, the lovely butterfly, I shall try this one real soon. Maybe it will feel like Spring sooner.

Well there you have it....just a few cards on my agenda to make. You all have a great rest of the evening and keep looking up. Have a great week and I hope you get all that you planned to do...done. Cheers ~ Louise

Scrumptious Beef Roast and the Card Order Finished

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a good evening. Well, I just got done watching "Master Chef Junior" My goodness, those kids can sure cook!! They must have some awesome mothers who encourage them. One of the kids, Andrew, cooks for his family. My goodness, my mother never let me in the kitchen to cook....only to do her dishes!!! Maybe that is why I hate doing dishes today, if only someone would do MY dishes!!! 

When my mother finally did let me cook, I always had to peel the potatoes and boil them....."KP Duty"....well, I did watch her cook a lot. Liking to cook did not come into play till after I got married. Gosh, I don't remember cooking a lot before then. I must have gone out to eat a lot, fast food was my diet, hamburgers, french fries and pizza's, that maybe why I deal with diabetes now. Eating all the wrong things....too much sugar and too much salt and fats. Oh well, now I try to eat right and trying to control blood sugar and A1c numbers...which can be a challenge everyday.

So today I wanted to post this scrumptious looking roast beef I made.....this being my first roast last week using Biz's marinade,  my second roast was from Festival, a "beef burgundy spoon roast" which had already been marinated. This is a really easy way to do your roast. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees, 5 minutes per pound, (if the roast is 4 lbs. = 20 minutes) then turn the oven off and leave in the oven for 1 hour without peeking. Your roast will turn out perfect like this. You can find the recipe here , it's a very good recipe and I think will be my "go to" for all my roasts. I can then slice the beef for sandwiches during the week for JP's lunches.

I received a comment in my previous post. Angela wanted to see the card order I made for my friend. In the above picture are the cards I made. I already gave her 2 Birthday Cards....it was a nice order and I am hoping to buy a cheap printer at Walmart with the $$. The computer downstairs has a label program, but not a printer. My computer upstairs has a printer but not a label program. Here's hoping this all works out, "we'll see", said the blind mouse.

Here is a set of cards that I will be adding to my Etsy store in the next few days. $9.00 + postage. I used the Stamping Up's "work of art" stamps. I saw the idea on the Internet and liked the idea....so here is my rendition of that card. I like cards that can be used for multiple seasons and reasons. As you can see, the order to my friend also includes one of these cards in the set.

Well, the Presidents speech is done.....sounded like a Utopia type world he was talking about...."we'll see", said the blind mouse!!!!!

Have a good rest of the night and keep looking up!!
Cheers ~ Louise