Butterfly Birthday Card

Happy Birthday to you!!!! This is one of my new birthday cards.........simple but lots of fun. Using the crayon technique again as in the previous card. The butterfly was embossed in white and using distress ink it was painted in, another fun technique.

Well, I just wanted to get a new card up in my blog and in my etsy store. Beginning to switch gears now and work on Birthday, Anniversary and Easter.........Mother's day is not far away either.

Have lots to do today, so I better get going, talk to you all later. Sorry these blogs aren't very newsy, not a whole lot going on right now. So Cheeri-o until my next blog!!!
~Louise~

Last St. Pat's Card of the Season

This is my last card for the St. Patrick's Day season...............but it was the most fun to make. Using different colored crayons and smearing on my iron then onto a piece of white glossy cardstock made this technique quite unique! The background looks marbalized, I used two different greens and gold. In the next few days I will be putting a couple of cards up in my Etsy store with different colors...........so you must check it out if you have a hankering to. Go to: www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com Most of my cards go for $3+postage. I will also add an extra card to the order along with a bookmark.

Not alot going on lately, looking forward to seening Spring coming and working outside again, green grass and flowers popping up. So talk to you later and have a great day!!!!!

~Louise~

I'm Doing Another Etsy Tap Dance......YAY!!!!

Doing another Etsy tap dance this weekend.........sold 3 St. Patrick Cards..........gosh that just so makes me day.........I really could get used to this!!!! Well, I will make a few more cards today, and put a few more up on my Etsy store in the next few days..........SO CHEERS to St. Patty's Day!!!!!! Celebrating my Blessings!!!!!!! This little card "Shamrocks Galore 2" was like one of the cards sold yesterday. Only difference I used a sprelli background wrapping thread around to form a circle. Shamrocks stamped and punched on the front. The inside of the card says "Celebrate Your Blessings"

Making Chicken soup today.....a warm dish for a cold and snowy day.......I don't have a special recipe for my chicken soup cause every pot I make is different from the other......like to use lots of spices, today so far, there's onions, a chicken thigh and leg, garlic, celery leaves, carrots and onion soup mix. Took it to a boil then turned down the heat to simmer. Once the chicken is cooked I'll take it out and debone then turn up the heat and add the noodles, boil a bit and turn down the heat again............WA LA a wonderful chicken soup!!!!!!

Today, seems to be a snow day, not going any place so maybe I will straighten up the house a little and go make some cards and excercise a bit today. So talk to you later and take care and TAKE JESUS!!!!!
~Louise~

Etsy Dance and Some New St. Patty Cards

Added these cards to my Etsy store in the last couple of days. Will be adding a few more St. Patty cards in the next few days and that will be it for St. Patrick Cards till next year. The first card with the House Mouse is one of my favorite cards.......I am a huge House Mouse fan so I have lots of stamps with the cute little mice..........just don't like those mice running around in my basement!!!! One night I was working at making cards and I opened a drawer and WA-LA there were pieces of dog food in the drawer......now how could they have gotten there???? You got it, a friendly little mouse was finding hiding places for her food and my stamping studio seemed the perfect place!!!! I finally caught her along with her babies!!!!!

This is another card I put up on Etsy the other day.......Irish enough?????? Did the Etsy tap dance the other day, so I was pretty happy. Sold a St. Patrick Card, soooooo, thought I better get another few cards up for the Irish!!!! Next on the agenda will be a few Happy Birthday Cards and then comes Easter..............my how the seasons fly by, before you know it Christmas will be here!!!!!

Well time to close this blog, have to go to my Etsy store and put up another St. Patrick card if you go to www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com I tell how I made these cards and the others that I will put up. So you have a good day and take care.

~Louise~

♥Frame Your Favorite Valentine♥

Made this frame along with two other frames, maybe about a year ago and just now putting all three frames in my etsy store. Nothing like a little procrastination on my part. But, now they are in my Etsy store, you can see all three frames at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/.

Hey, so what did you think of those Green Bay Packers.....what a great game, huh!!!!! I am really impressed by Arron Rogers, he sure is one of those great players..........good for him, couldn't happen to a better person. Aaron is going to be on the Letterman Show tonight, will be fun to see him and see how he does throwing the ball back at Letterman.....hahahaha!

Finally took the rest of my Christmas stuff down......there I go again....procrastination setting in. Another thing I procrastinate about is doing my taxes....gosh, taking time to sit down and see where all our money went and how much Uncle Sam takes from us is one of those jobs I have a hard time getting to. But, I have set aside Wednesday to at least get started on the taxes....mmmmm would be nice if I could finish it all.

Well, time to close this blog till the next one that may come up next week some time.......you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh.

~Louise~

Beautiful Heart Valentine Card

Here's my newest "Beautiful Heart Valentine Card" posted this card in my etsy store, go to: www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com The card is selling for $3.00+postage and you can pay thru "PayPal" or use your credit card. This was a simple card to make, the stamp was found at a sale for $2 and the background stamp for $2 also.

The card was made by layering with a couple of layers of cardstock, the heart stamped in black and penned in with a sparkle gel pen. Pearls embellish the card at four corners and also on the heart.

Big storm coming tomorrow and Wednesday.......hopefully it skips us. Chicago is supposed to get hit really bad. It will be like the storm of 1967 whewwwww that was a long time ago, I was 21 then, now that IS a long time ago!!! Yikes!!!! 43 years ago!!!! Yep, just as the Bible says, our lives are just "a puff of smoke" a vapor that fades away. Things that were so important when we are younger, fade away and are forgotten...........life is a vapor.

Watching the news tonight and the news commentator said there is just 48 days till spring. So maybe that will make things look a little more cheery for the first day of February, at least the snow won't be lasting very long. AND February is a SHORT month also...........so cheers, not much longer and beautiful Spring will be here with the rain, mosquitos, bugs and bees. Lovely!!!!

Well, time to close this blog, so have a good day and a LOVELY February!!!
~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

♥Valentine's Day is Coming Soon♥

Here is my newest Valentine's Day Card. Cuttlebugged the corners and colored them in with copic markers. Placed 3 sparkling hearts down the middle and added a Happy Valentine's Day! sticker at the bottom. Embellishing with a few gems for that added glitz.

You can find this card in my Etsy store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ the price is $3.00 + postage. For ordering this card you will receive one free card and bookmark just for stopping by and buying one of my cards.

Cheers~Louise~

Doing the Etsy Tap Dance Today and Another Snowman Card!

Here's my newest card that I just put in my little Etsy store tonight. Titled "Snowflakes are just unassembled snowmen!" It's a fun card to make, using alcohol inks dabbed on the metal piece which was run through the cuttlebug. Gems, another snowflake and the pre-made snowman embellish this card.

Doing the Etsy tap dance tonight, didn't even realize it till I went to my etsy store to add this "snowflake" card and noticed two cards were sold......wow made my night that was for sure!!!!! It's been awhile since I last sold any cards through Etsy, so this was truely a blessing to me.

Oh, I've sold a few cards here and there, but not alot. I have to figure out how to get my cards out there more without having to spend alot of money doing it. Got any ideas????? I am going to try getting more cards in my little store....it is said that if you keep listing and renewing your pieces of art you are in the forefront more instead of in the "back 40". Guess it's worth a try.

Going to close this blog for tonight. Have to get dinner ready for the husband......roasted vegies on penne and salmon burgers on rye toast and salad.

Talk to you later ~ Louise ~

Valentine Cards

Just added these Valentine Cards to my etsy store tonight. A set of 6 cards of various kinds for that special someone. They are $2.50 a piece or $15.00 for 6 plus, for your order of these cards you will receive one free bonus Valentine card along with one free bookmark. Just for stopping by. You can see all my cards at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/

I am going to add a few new cards in the next few days, probably St. Pat cards and then a few Winter cards. Trying to get a large stock of cards in my store, so when people come by they can sip a cup of tea and just enjoy the moment.........sounds good to me!!!

Getting late, so I shall close for now, take care and have a great day. ~Louise~

The New Year and a New Card!

Happy, happy New Year! Oh I know it is already the 6th.....but you know how time flies when we're having a gooooooood time...lol!

Been busy with exercise, working and shopping, taking down some of my Christmas stuff, (still have my village and small tree up), cooking (I believe) gourmet dinners for JP. Last night it was London Broil......oh my, was that delicious!!!! Not so good for the diet, but mmmmmmm good, the meat almost melted in the mouth. NO pictures this time, maybe next time I make London Broil, as I only cooked half the meat and froze the rest for another time.


Card making seems to have been put on the back burner these last couple of days (sigh). BUT...........I am going downstairs in about 5 minutes to make a card or two, saw an idea in a magazine today at the store, so before I forget it, gonna make it! Well as you can see.....I made a card with my new folder from Cuttlebug. Ran silver cardstock through, then glued the embossed cardstock on a silver card. The pre-made snowman was glued on a cuttlebug scalloped circle with snowflakes then glued on black cardstock. "Let it snow" was layered on silver and blackcardstock. The inside of the card is says "May this winter greeting find you well and warm."

I will be putting this card in my etsy store for $3.00 + postage go to: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ to find all my cards.

Back in a few ~ Louise ~

Happy New Year - 2011!!!!

The New Year is about to begin for us....in about 6 hours........I maybe down stairs watching all the festivities of the New Years programs and will most likely watch the ball drop in New York City. We had no plans for partying tonight, as it all depended on the weather.....as of now it is foggy out.

We did go out to dinner at the "Taste of the Windy City" JP had a gyro and I had a cheeseburger.....oh yummmmmm. I missed going to Inches A Weigh today, as my car was getting fixed, another $249 dollar bill again. Well, so far we have invested $500 into the taurus and we have had it almost 2 months. YIKES!!!! Going to keep a running tab on how much this car costs....when it hits $5000.00 we are getting a newer car. HA HA HA!

Have you made any resolutions for the new year? I haven't, can't keep them anyways. I am thinking I will try and lose a few more lbs, not sure how much, by the end of March I am quitting Inches A Weigh. It has been 2 years of going regularly and sad to announce has not been a success for me......I have felt like I have been under much stress for two years more than anything.....and that is not the way to feel. This whole experience should have been a good one and I have not found it that way. Plus, it has been very expensive and now I have a car payment plus extra upkeep. So "cherio Inches A Weigh" we are off and running in a different direction.

As for Etsy and my card making, I would like to do a little bit more, been alittle lax in this area. The merchandising has slowed down a bit, which is fine with me, maybe now I can focus on card making and get my cards out there more. I really see a few changes coming on the horizon in the next few months, I just hope I am up for all these changes, good or bad......I am not sure.

Well, see you in the new year 2011 for now this is ~Louise~ signing off for 2010.....Cheers!!!

Boeuf Bourguignon a la Julia Child for Christmas Dinner....mmmmmmmm

Well, here it is.....Julia Childs "Boeuf Bourguignon" made in my new dutch oven. Was a long and envolved recipe......but very much worth the time spent on making it. I think I will make this again but using larger chuncks of meat next time. Gosh this was delicious. My new tradition at Christmas Time....tr la la la la la...... Here tis Christmas dinner, all set up with a relish tray of olives, celery and carrots and dip. Cole slaw and garlic toast with Julia's boeuf bourguignon over noodles. If you would like the recipe I used, you can find it at: http://www.food.com/ and type in "boeuf bourguignon a la Julia Child" When going to this site you will find many other recipes for beef bourguignon.....take your pick and enjoy!!!!! There even is a weight watchers beef stew.

Well, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, may your new year be the best ever, thankfully spring is not far off when we get into the new year, but enjoy and take rest cause the busy season of planting gardens and flowers will begin again.

Blessings ~ Louise ~

I'm Dreaming of a WHITE Christmas by whatshername on Etsy

I was picked to be in a treasury by "whatshername" that was a neat Christmas surprise. Click on the following link to see my "White on White Christmas Card"

May your Christmas be Merry and 2011 be your best ever year!!!!
~Louise~

Click on this link:
I'm Dreaming of a WHITE Christmas by whatshername on Etsy

Merry Christmas Blessings

Here is a Christmas card I made and sent out to friends. Colored her in with pens, H2o's and sprayed her with glimmer mist and placed her in a pre-made card. Wa-La a pretty lady wishing you Merry Christmas Blessings.

Almost done with preparing for Christmas.....which is only 5 days away. Where in the world did this year go? So much has happened and what have I learned throughout this whole year? I am not sure, will have to sit down and write everything out, month by month, day by day. Shall give myself two weeks to reflect and maybe I will come up with a blog report after it is finished.

I received my Christmas present plus birthday present from my Step father. He gave me $100 to spend for whatever. I bought a Mini NuWave.....oh gosh is it ever a neat little appliance. I made a whole chicken in it the other day, was it ever delicious. Last night we finished up the bird and then I turned it into chicken soup. Yummy!!!!

My Christmas present........... finally got a Dutch Oven!!!! Only paid $30 for it compared to even Walmart's Dutch Oven which was $60, the brandmark is "Better Homes and Garden" I guess you are paying for the name. So in this case, cheaper was the way I went and still have a nice pot. I have made a few things in it. A vegetable soup that was out of this world. And a stew that came very close to being out of this world!!!!!!

I am thinking that for Christmas I want to make that lovely Beef stew that Julia Childs made...Boeuf a la Bourguignonne. I found the recipe so, if I make it, I shall take a picture and give the recipe right here on this blog!!!!!

Well, I shall close for now, as sometimes I can get pretty wordy at times, so you have a great day and talk to you soon.
~Louise~

Winter's Greeting Snowman

Winter is here, whether we want it or not. We got 11 inches over the weekend.....whew, guess that is better then rain, as our roof leaks into the ketchen, so snow is better at this point. Well, here I have a snowman card, he is a "Winter Greeting Snowman" as I have finished the Christmas cards. Now it is on to Valentine and Winter Cards. I am going to put him in my etsy store, probably tonight, you can go to http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ to see all my other cards. This particular card will be $3.00 + postage. You will receive one free card of my choosing plus a bookmark.

Well, you have a great day and see you in a few days as I am trying to get ready for Christmas and get all my cards out to friends and family. Take care and take Jesus!!!! ~Louise~

Silent Night

"Silent Night, Holy Night".........this is my newest card, made and put in my Etsy store last night. The price is $3.00 + postage. Go to: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ to see how I made the card. Going to make a few more of these cards to send out to friends and family. But I have to get a move on if I want them out this week end. Cheers ~ have a great day ~ Louise

An Iris Fold Christmas Card

Made this card last night, using my own templete (not hard, just cut out a square)layed it on a snowflake Cuttlebug folder and cut it out then smudged with red ink. Used ribbon for the iris fold (following a templete), the iris is gold wrapping paper. Topped with a ribbon for a bow then covered the snowflakes with red speckles then added Merry Christmas. This is a closer look at the Iris Folding with ribbon.

I am going to add this to my Etsy store tonight, the price will be $3.50 + postage. You will receive one free card and a book mark for free, so total cost will run you about $5.00 tops, if it goes over I will pay the rest. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! The card will come with an envelope and clear plastic envelope for protection. The inside of the card says "Thank God for His Son♥ His Gift too wonderful for words. 2 Corinthians 9:15"

Go to http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/

~ A Choice We Must All Make ~

~ Please read John 3 ~

Mr. Snowman Card and White Chili

Here's a little card I made tonight.....made the snowman a couple of days ago and was trying to decide what to do for the background. Got an idea today laying on an exercise bed.

Ran dark blue cardstock through a snowflake cuttlebug folder then a dabed a white ink pad on the snowflakes and wa-la......layered Mr. Snowman on burgandy cardstock then on the blue background. Tied a white ribbon round him just to add a little pazaazzzzzzzzz! If I don't sell him tomorrow (as I am taking him to my exercise class) I will put him up on my Etsy store for $3.00 + postage.

Tonight I am making some white turkey chili.........as soon as it's made and plated, I will take a picture of it and add that to this post along with the recipe.

The recipe:

1 lb chicken breast or cooked chicken or turkey cut in pieces

1 med. onion, chopped

1 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 tbl vegetable oil

2 cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 can 14 oz chicken broth

2 cans 40z chopped green chilies (I used 1 can of tomato and chilies)

1 tsp salt (didn't use salt)

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (I used chili powder)

1 cup half and half

1/2 cup sour cream

Saute chicken, onion and garlic salt in oil. (if using cooked chicken or turkey, just add when onions are soft. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to boil and reduce heat, simmer, uncovered for 30 min. Remove from heat and stir in cream and sour cream. Serve immediately

The above white chili is delicious!!!!!

Talk to you later~Louise~