Okay....Cards We Made at Betty's 13 Days Ago

Hi there everyone. Well, as my title says, okay, here are the cards we made at Betty's 13 days ago. Guess I am kinda slow at posting them. It's always a joy to go to Betty's and learn something new.

The top card was stamped with the flowers and the die cut lady bug is from a set Betty got from www.wish.com for just $1...I think she got a few other things along with this little guy. Cute as a bug, isn't it.

I Love Flamingos. This was fun to make. The card was sponged with blue ink for the sky and water. The Flamingos came in five pieces, so you had to match each piece in different colors, oh and get the beek right too.....I must have tried 3 times....this was one of those times, we needed a "Misti". The Flamingo turned out pretty good after a couple of tries.

This was a pretty fishy card....lol! We colored the fish with copic markers. The netting was stamped and a few gems to pop. The waves were from a patterned paper....looks almost real!!

This was an easy card....I really need to find me one of these die cut deer's, hopefully by Christmas so I can make a few of these cards. I have the trees and snowflakes and a die cut something like this one....just need the deer!!! I shall be on the hunt!!!

I've taken a week off from making cards....not sure why, for it is something I really enjoy. My yard keeps calling my name....there still is so much to do. I have been painting tires and planting things in them. Also, I transplanted a tomato plant for the 4th time....I am wondering if it will ever take root. We'll see, it's a Rutger, still has 2 months yet to grow. I still have not gotten all my garden animals out yet......

Can't believe there is only 3 days left in this month....where is this summer going to so fast!!! Well, I think I will close here, as there really is not much to talk about. Do you have times like that? Where there is not much going on to even do a blog??? I used to do a post every other day or so....now it's every week or so or more....

Oh well....keep looking up, better days are coming. 
Cheers ~ Louise

A New Year ~ What Will Transpire??

Hi there everyone. How is your New Year going so far?? Already it is January 6th.....where oh where did that time go??? I took down 1/2 my Christmas stuff. I still have my village up and my little table top Christmas tree is now decorated for Valentine's Day. I found some red Christmas decorations at Walmart at 50% off. I could not resist. Red snowflakes, a red butterfly and two red hummingbirds. Sweet. I still have to finish decorating the tree with a few more things, beads, bows and bulbs. I will take a picture when finished.

I have an apple pie in the oven right now. I can hardly wait to try it. It's called "Apple Crumb Cheesecake Pie" I am going to see if I can get the video up on this post. Nope...no video. But here is a picture of the cake/pie.

 Well, I just had a piece of pie with a small scoop of vanilla Geleto ~ YES this is worthy of making again and again. It was simple to make. I used a Pillsbury pie crust. Made the cheese spread with 1-8 oz package of cream cheese, softened. 1/4 cup sugar and 1 large egg and beat together. This mixture is then spread on the unbaked pie crust.

The apple pie filling. 6 cups of apples, peeled and diced and 2 T. lemon juice poured over the apples so they don't brown (I used frozen apples, no need for lemon juice). 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cornstarch, 1 t ground cinnamon, 1/4 t nutmeg, 1/4 t. salt 1 cup water.

Stir together the sugars, cornstarch, spices and salt in a sauce pan, whisk in the water until everything is dissolved. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer till thickened.  Add the apples then increase the heat to medium, cook and stir together for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool. 

The directions say to refrigerate the filling in an airtight container for 4-6 hours to thicken. But I poured the mixture over the cheese right away. Did not seem to affect the pie any.

The crumb topping is 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup quick cooking oats, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 t. cinnamon, 1/4 t. nutmeg, 2 T melted butter. Mix altogether till crumbled and spread on top of the apples.
Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. DELICIOUS !!

 How do you like these Valentine cards, I found them on Pinterest. I think I will make a few of these to send to the nephews and nieces. LOL....I think they are cute!! I do have PLENTY of eyes.

Funny cards above....kids will love them.

This heart with one eye is cute, I am trying to figure out how to put this one together. I do have that stamp..."I've got my eye on You" I have a few weeks to play with it though.

I guess I am going to start working on our income tax. We got our work sheets from the accountant today. So, the sooner I get them done the sooner we might have a refund. I just have to get my rear in gear and motivate myself to do it.

We have quite a few Doctor appointments coming up in the next couple of months for both JP and I. Why does it seem the older we get the more the Doctors want to see our bodies. I don't remember seeing the Doctor that much in my 30's and 40's, maybe for only the annual exam...oh well, I guess they have to eat too. JP always says that. And I say, yeah, but not on my nickle!!! Boo, bad sport!!

We ended 2017 with car problems, the car was leaking antifreeze. Took it in, JP thought the clamps needed to be tightened, they did that, but it still leaked. So we started 2018 with car problems. On  Friday, JP took the car back in and it was decided we needed a new water pump. The water pump was on warranty, which saved some money. So we just have to pay for labor. Whew, glad it was not more then $100.

Since I do not have a crystal ball, I cannot say what will transpire this New Year....maybe I do not want to know, I might not want to take that leap into the unknown. I just hope I can draw closer to Jesus and seek Him more for all my needs. It is so easy to walk this life without inquiring  of the Lord as to what to do next. I used to do that...ok Lord, what do I do next. But I forgot, and stopped doing it. I think 2018 should be my year to depend on God more for my every need. Oh, oh.....you know God is inspiring me to write this, He will take me at my word.....this should be an interesting year!!

Well, time to close here....this post is getting a bit tooooooo long.

You all take care, keep looking up ~ better days are coming!!

Cheers ~ Louise

Snowmen and Apple Cards......

Hi there everyone....wow, can't believe it's almost a week since I last posted here. But I have an excuse.....been busy making cards as you can see below. I had two orders to fill. 25 "Apple Note Cards" and 20 "Snowmen Christmas Cards" Also on order, (see 5th picture down) a poster for "Stocking Stuffers" I tell ya one thing....I could not have done the poster if I did not have my "Office program" installed, so happy I did. Have been able to make some labels and tonight, I am typing a letter to a friend....yay!!!

The first picture you see are the snowmen cards. This was a really fun and unique technique. The snowmen are actually napkins, peeled down to one layer then stuck on layered card stock with a glue stick. I had fun doing these....I must find some more Christmas napkins!!!  The silver was run through my snowflake cuttlebug folder. Hard to see, but the snowmen were embossed with 'speckles'. I have another set of 4 snowmen like these on green card stock with silver snowflakes. Then I will be on to another snowman design.  

Again, here are some Apple Cards. I need to make some more of these cards and add them to my Hospice card collection, also needed are a few snowmen. The meeting is December 4th.....I better get cutting.

Did I tell you these apple cards were actually made with a real apple?? Yep, cut it in half, stamped the apple in ink then on to the card stock. Can only use the apple for the evening, cause the next day the apple was browned and drying. Oh well, it served a GOOD purpose.

In these two pictures, the apples are pretty much the same, except for the background. The gold strips were embossed with gold embossing, I like the effect and may do this again with Christmas colors....maybe the snowmen may get some on their cards somehow.

So here is the poster I made for the Dentist office.....just added some washi tape, blue snowflakes and holly in the corners....I rather like this poster. Monday I will take it in for them to decide on which one of the three posters I made will be the final one on card stock. This one was done on paper.

Another Apple card for you....

I want to apologise to you who are reading my post right now. I am sorry that I have not been able to comment on some of your blogs. It is not because I don't want to, I do and have tried, but for some reason BlogSpot is not allowing me to do that.

Since I switched to Windows 10, I have found it much harder to do certain things that I could do easily with Windows 8. One of the things I am finding hard to do is leave comments on blogs. For some posts my only way around it, is to email you, and then I don't know if you see my email, because it probably went into the spam file for all I know.

I used to have problems with only being able to leave comments on certain blogs being anonymous...now for some reason I can't even be anonymous and that comment completely vanishes.

So sorry. I do read your blogs, if you will notice all the blogs on my sidebar.....everyday I check to see if you posted anything...I then go to your blog and read. If you see not comment from me, just know I tried but could not get in.

Well, you all have a good day and keep looking up. Please pray for those families who lost loved ones in this terrorist attack in Paris. I just don't understand why these terrorist get such a thrill in killing people and then themselves. We must pray for America....because we are next on their hit list...God Help US!!!!!!
Cheers (anyways) ~ Louise

A Few New Cards....

Hi everyone...hope your week has started out well. Weather has been beautiful and in the high 70's which has been so very comfortable. I guess if you do not like this weather and want it warmer, you might want to blame me, because I have been asking God to "keep it cool" and He has. I don't do well in hot weather, humidity makes my ankles swell up.

Been finding some time to make cards. Thought I would share a few with you. I have all four of these cards ready to go into my Etsy store. Each card will be $3.50 + postage of $2.00. Each card will come with an envelope and be enclosed in a plastic sleeve for protection. I usually send an extra card as a bonus for shopping at my Etsy store. 

So this is my new set of Happy Birthday Cards. Each card will have a monkey dangling from the number. I can make the cards from 1 years to 100 years. I will probably put a few more into my Etsy store over the next few weeks.

I colored this card last night with copic markers...it turned out really nice and thought I would add it to my store. Not sure where it came from, as I don't personally own this stamp. I am thinking one of my stamping friends must have stamped and embossed this and gave it to me.

This cute squirrel stamp came from Good Will, thought it would make a cute card. I have a blogging friend named Biz she has squirrel friends that visit her and husband Tony. So when I saw this stamp, I thought of her. Actually sent a card like this to them, because Tony has not been feeling well.

This last card was kind of an experiment. Kind of like an Iris Fold with the snowman being the center. I think it still needs something more, like maybe a few snowflakes....maybe the next card will have snow flakes on it...we'll see.

Well time to close this blog. Have to get dinner cooked for JP. Have a great week. For me, tomorrow will be a shopping day, Wednesday, home and Thursday, I am planning to make some cards at Betty's place. Missed last month because I was not feeling too well. Hopefully things will be better this time. I need a little inspiration and I usually get that when I go to Betty's.
Cheers - Louise

PS If you would like to visit my other blog it is:cards4ubylouise.wordpress.com

More Christmas Cards in My Etsy Store

Hi Everyone, how are you all doing this fine day.....the last day of November. Not exactly sure where this month went to, but it sure did fly by. For me, it went pretty fast, as it is my birthday month. I always look forward to Thanksgiving and a wonderful turkey dinner and all the trimmings. Hope your Thanksgiving was a blessed day.

Well, today I have added some cards I have been making for Hospice, Etsy and for my personal use to send out to friends and family for Christmas. Hope you like them. For Hospice, I am donating them. On Etsy: they are selling for $3.00 + postage (about $1.50 cause I always add an extra card.) If you are friend or family, you'll be seeing one of these cards or one like it in your mail box in the next few weeks. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

This is one of my more prettier cards. I made this one last year, but kept it for a sample and made a few more this year. I like that blue shimmery background which I ran through my cuttlebug then embellished with the tree and gems and my new Merry Christmas stamp.

In this card I used the same cuttlebug folder but turned it on it's side and embellished with snowflakes and gems.

I got the idea for this card from a fellow stamper on blogspot. Becky @ http://www.scrappin'andstampininGJ.blogspot.com I visit her daily. She likes to use Washi tape, as do I. A very simple card, one that can be produced pretty quickly. This was a good card to make for Hospice. Check her out, she always has some great ideas. Thanks Becky.

This card was fun to make and I could make quite a few at one time. I cased the idea from Brenda @ http://www.inkspiredtostamp.blogspot.com Thanks Brenda.

This Christmas Tree Washi tape card....ummmmm...not sure where the idea came from, but I cased it from someone. So, whoever you are Thanks.

My last card is my gingerbread man. Have lots of gingerbread men, maybe I should make more of these for Hospice. They go pretty fast.

Well, there you have it, more cards from the inventory of http://www.cards4ubylouise.blogspot.com and http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com Have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

Time Out Today........Celebrate B-day ♥

Kylie my doggie encircled in pretty snowflakes, holly and corner scrolls. Heard about a new program  called www.picmonkey.com  You can play with your photos, add text and edit, add things (like I did above). Be going there more often to see what else I can do.

Today we celebrated my birthday going out to the "Outback" again. Steak again with aussi fries and asparagus. JP had a fried chicken steak and garlic potatoes/beans. We shared one of those blossom onions with that special sauce. MMMMM~good!! (not a whole lot of calories.....NOT!!!)

Bought a new coat at "Burlington Coat Factory". We have lived in the Fox Cities for 25 years and I have never been to that store.........amazing!!! Guess I will go back there again, kinda liked shopping there, they have everything!!!! Anyways my coat is a 'Calvin Klein" coat which of course was made in CHINA!!  It was a $120.00 coat and paid $60.00, it is black and the material is soft. I like this coat very much as it has snaps, no buttons and no zippers. I just did not want to fool with buttons and zippers. My old coat had buttons and lost them a couple of times. The lining needed to be redone and the coat cleaned. I was figuring it would cost $100 to have cleaned and lining fixed. So I shall wear my old coat around the house......looks like an old rag....but I still love it.

Still have not finished my Christmas cards, maybe in the next few days they will get done. Got my first Christmas card today.......nothing like being really early. Finally figured out what I will send my 87 year old stepfather. He doesn't want me to send $$$, he can't see to do cross word puzzles anymore, no sense sending him food or coffee, cause I don't know what he likes. He liked a little toy I sent him last year that could be wound up and it flipped backwards. He said he liked that. SO I thought today, I will send him a stuffed toy dog..........for the person you don't know what to send......send a stuffed toy ♥♥♥

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day at a friends house. Food was delicious and turkey out of this world. She cooked it in a nesco so it made the turkey VERY tender. I really need to get a turkey for JP and I, as we really like turkey sandwiches and casseroles. We sat around watching football. She got new front room furniture.....the recliner had a massage and heater.....was that ever comfy to lay in, could have fallen asleep several different times.

Well, time to close here. Want to go downstairs and ride my bike for a couple of miles and make a few more cards. So talk to you later and keep looking up for  your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

New Creations and the Elections

My newest addition to my creations. A frosted etched glass dish. Picked this dish up along with 8 other dishes at a rummage sale. My first thought was to break the dishes and turn them into stepping stones. (I still may do that with a few dishes next summer) For now, they will be.....maybe....large candle holders or a serving dish for _______, fill in the blank. The snowflake was made with my Cricut cutter, cut the snowflake on vinyl then put it on the plate. This particular dish had 3 coats of etching goop applied to it. It was a lot of fun to make and most likely will make a few more.

My second creation is this cute little candle holder with snowflakes on all four sides. The snowflake is from a die-cut which was run through my cuttlebug. The etching goop was applied and left on for 15 minutes then washed off with cold water. I have 3 more to make and probably will put one in my Etsy shop in the next few days. Will also make a few for Christmas gifts. Will have to sell the candle holder for at least $10, as the light and candle holder alone were priced at $4.50. Have not found a place cheaper as yet, but will be looking around.

Also on my agenda is putting together a scrapbook for JP's Christmas present. 40 years ago, when JP was still in stock-cars and racing, I put together 2 scrapbooks in 1972 and 1973. Those books are falling apart now, so I thought it would be fun to put one together. I am hoping to get at least 3-4 pages done (maybe more) before Christmas.......as I get them done I will post them here. Bought this big blue photo album and extra pages for the smaller pictures and actually found some racing stickers and 12x12 racing paper. Should be fun. So far I have about $40 into this project. Hope JP likes the album and doesn't ask me "how much did it cost?"

Still working on my Christmas cards, better get going on them SOON, cause Christmas is right around the corner and I have at least 25-30 personal cards to make and also put some into my Etsy shop. As you can see I am just a little busy, craft wise. There is always something cooking on the stove in my home.....hahahahahaha!

Well, the elections are FINALLY over. I think I am "politics saturated" and ready for some R & R (rest and recuperation) from politics, although I still like listening to Rush Limbough, Sean Hannity and Mark Levine. I had hoped that Mitt Romney would have gotten elected but that was not the will of God...........He is in control of everything and that includes these elections. I don't really understand what it is we are to learn from this, but whatever it is...."All things work together for those that love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Well you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption is drawing nigh......getting closer everyday♥
Cheers ~ Louise