Happy Monday!!

   How are you feeling today?  Me, well not so hot, but I was thrilled to have a really nice Christmas and actually did feel pretty good over the Holiday!   Yesterday and today, not so much so, and will be be back to see my Oncologist tomorrow for my routine checkup!  I have a feeling this new treatment is not going to be one I can deal with....it has already caused a few side effects and I've only taken it twice?  No clue what will happen if I continue, especially since these are not the worst of what can happen.  I did NOT even want to try this..,so I don't want to stay on long, if It makes me feel lousy!   I'll be off to San Diego in a matter of weeks, and I really want to enjoy every minute of that trip...who know how many more, I'll have?

   Onto happier things...I'm' working hard to organize and purge my craft-room and have WAY too much stuff!  I plan to start selling and donating a TON of stuff, so IF there is something you want or need, please ask.  I have tons and and tons of dies, stamp sets, inks and so much more..many of which are brand new and never used!   It's become overwhelming so it's time to make it much more easy on me!!   Please if you can use ANY supplies, I promise you'll great a great deal!   Just email me!!

  

   I did have a very creative weekend and worked on some new cards that I am here to share. Two are birthday card and the rest all "thank you" cards that I'm sending out to everyone who spoiled me this year...I think deep down, we all know this may have been my last Christmas and as much as we all hate to say or think it...I have accepted that and can only HOPE for a miracle!  

    As you can see, I was very much into a "Purple" theme, but this is my color and I used it a lot yesterday.  I'll start with my first two "Birthday" cards, both created so easily with this wonderful die from Simon Say Stamp, that i bought when I was out in "Columbus" for Create 2015, which was so much fun!  I pray I will be well enough to go again, and if all goes as planned it may be hosted in May of 2016, which would be wonderful!! 

   Both cards were very easy and fun to create....the first card is very basic and I was able to make that one in a matter of minutes.  The second is a bit more details and has a clear acetate over the die cuts an the card front. I then added some matching sequins and it was done...also very easy !!

  And then I moved on to Thank you cards and all of these feature more dies from Simon Says Stamps\...Yes, in case you can't guess, I LOVE their Exclusive dies and owe many..and some in duplicate, so again, IF you see you like and want, let me know!  I may be selling it or even have two!

 

  I've already made quite of few similar to the second card and just love this new die, from SSS, which you can find in the store HERE!  It makes it so easy to make a quick card, but can be used in many ways to make a more detailed card too!  And it's only $7.99 which is a great price!  I've use it in variety or colors !!

    Hope you like them and hope I has inspired you to create some new card with your favorite dies or in your favorite colors!    

Wonderful Christmas Wishes!!

Just wanted to stop by and take a moment to wish everyone a Magical Christmas !  I hope you all have a wonderful time with your family and friends!   I am very much looking forward to spending tonight (Christmas Eve) with friends that I have known all my life.  I love these people as much as my family and they are very much like a second family to me. I feel so blessed and lucky to have known them for over Fifty years!  I love all of them and all the new generations so much!   To the "Thibodeau Family"...Love you all with all my heart!!   Tomorrow, we'll spend the morning with Alex and Acacia and I'm very happy that they are now taking on the tradition of us all being together on Christmas Morning.  We'll go over early and will open all our gifts together and have a casual, but yummy breakfast.  My Mom and Don will also be there, as will Acacia's Parent's (Barbara and Chris) who are know a part of our extended family.  We are so happy that Alex and Acacia are now happily married and will be looking forward to the day they bring some wonderful grand babies into our lives.   Brian will be with us in heart and we'll talk with him, for sure, but it's just not the same as having him home and I do WISH so much that he was here.  I am, however, very happy that we were out in San Diego for Thanksgiving and it was a joy to have him host us for dinner!  I'm also going to be back there for my "Winter Escape" in a mater of weeks!  I'm also so happy that my flights are all booked and that I have rented a wonderful condo, right in the heart of "Little Italy".  I also look forward to spending time with some of his wonderful friends -- Carlo, Meg, Bill, Mosie, Jeff, and all the other great people that work with him at Rare and Fairweather!      See you all very soon.   Big HUGS to all my amazing craft friends too and special thanks to everyone who has been so sweet and kind to me this year.   Living with Cancer has certainly made this year a challenge, and I am determined to keep on fighting..and will hope for a Miracle.      Merry Merry Christmas,   With love, Lisa  

Warm Winter Wishes...

   Two brand new cards I created today with my new Simon Says Stamp, January Card Kit!   Love Love Love it!! 

 

    I am so happy I am back to subscribing to these wonderful card kits.   When I first found out my Cancer was back, I was really scared and one of the first things I did was cancel my card kits and stopped shopping for any new craft goodies.   I have so much and at that time, I was too sick to create...plus, I did not want to have Hubby left worrying about what he would do with, not to mention all my other craft things.  I am still planning to cut back, big time on my craft shopping, but there was NO way I could resist these Kits.  I've been buying them since day one and LOVE them.  Thank you Heidi and all of  those who work so hard to make them so special!!  I feel so lucky to have them and lucky to be creating again...It's my passion and JOY!!  Praying I can beat this darn cancer..that is NOW my greatest wish in life....

 

    

   This one will be submitted to the new Monday Challenge over on the SSS Blog!  Come on over and play along!!

 

    This my second card and believe me, they were both so easy to make...everything, except for a few little gems were ALL in the kids and no stamping was involved...but there is a wonderful stamp set that I'll be using next  You can see it here...how cute is that!!  I plan to use it and much of this kit to make "Thank you" cards!   I think it's perfect for that!!

 

 

    

 

    Sorry the pics are not so hot...its' dark, cold and dreary here today, so getting nice picture is not easy!

    That's it for now..I need to get ready to head to Oncolody for my lab work.  Tomorrow I have my second "Opdivo" infusion and it will be the last of this year!  YAY!  Hoping I continue to do well with it and do not have any of the nasty or serious side effects!!

 HO HO HO!!  Have a wonderful week!! 

A big Birthday Weekend...

I started this yesterday, then never finished...Sorry Bri!!  

   December 19th will always be one the happiest days of my life and that all started 29 years ago, when I gave birth to my first son, Brian!   I can hardly beleive he is now 29, but he is and always will be the best Chrismtas gift ever!  I LOVE you Brian and always will!!

 

 

   My sweet little blue-eyed blond!  This was his "hospital" picture! 

 

9 months! 

 

First Grade and for those of you who know him,

Jeff Gardner is behind Brian in the Red shirt!! 

and a FEW years later....

Jeff, (top)

Carlo (left) and Brian...

 

I Love you, Brian and can't wait to see you in February!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     And today (December 20th) is another day for Special Birthdays...today I am celebrating these two precious pups, who I love with all my heart!!

  

Skye..on warm Summer day...

 

Skye as a Puppy, about two weeks before

we adopted her! 

Zeva...snuggling!!

 

 

 Zeva, all decked out...at "Auntie's"...on her way

here to be adopted, the day she and Skye turned 

9 Months old...! September 20, 2012

Later that day.....both girls are together again!!

 

 

And this is their, "Mom" - Cookie with her two 'brothers"...

she now lives in Connecticut and we hope to reunite the girls with her soon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   The Pups, Hubby and both my Boys, (Brian and Alex) 

are my LOVES! 

I am so lucky to have them all and will cherish 

each of them forever!!

Punta Cana....ahhhh!

 

 

 

My "Girls"...ready for Christmas...!!

   I am one of the "silly" pet owners who simply LOVES to dress my pups...I think it's probably because they are both "Girls" and after raising two Sons, I'm loving that I can buy dresses.

  Today I am sharing pictures of the "Girls"...in the their new Christmas Dresses, which I bought on Etsy, at this wonderful store called "Gracies Paws Prints".  I fell in love with all the fabulous outfits that Karen designs and love to by them for Skye and Zeva.  They are handmade and the quality is excellent.  IF you ever shop her, please tell Karen, you found her recommended on my blog !! 

  

 

   If ONLY I could get them to look at "me" when I am taking their pictures!  Never happens!   I am also happy that we'll be celebrating their Birthday on Sunday -- My "Babies" turn "3" on December 20th and I love them both so much!

   Now that Alex and Acacia are married, I'm hoping that a "Grand Baby"...and I would LOVE  girl, please, will come into my life soon...I've wanted to be a "Nana" for a long time and now my chances are better than ever..!  For now, I'm so blessed to have my two wonderful Sons, my Hubby and they two precious Pups!  I love them all with all my heart!!

You're Pawesome...

   Today has been another day spent creating in my craft-room and I am having so much fun!  I have four new cards to share, and I'll start with the first one, was created as a "Thank You" card for a wonderful Pet Organization, called Pet Rock "Festival", who made a very generous "donation" to the rescue I love.  Paw Affection Dachshund Rescue!   YAY!!

 

    I created this very CAS card using one of my favorite "Dog Themed" stamp sets, from Simon Says Stamp and it's one that was designed by Kristina Werner, who I adore.  I love her handwriting, and how it's featured in this adorable sentiment!   So cute and there is even a matching die set, which I also own!!

   My next card was created for the brand new "Cas(E) This Sketch" challenge which posted this morning,  At first, I admit I was a bit stumped by this, and was this was the first card that I made thinking I would enter it.  It features one of the wonderful new Kindness Sentiments from Hero's new Kindness Stamp set, which was inspired by Jennifer McGuire.

 

     I also created a second card, with one of my "Oldie but Goodie" stamps from Penny Black and the more I looked at this card, it reminded more and more of the sketch (the basic layout), so I decided that I would enter this card to the CTS Challenge instead!!   Do you think I made a good choice?  Hope so!!

 

Inspiration Sketch from CTS 

 

  That brings me to this really fun card, where I broke out a brand new "Layering Heart" die from Hero Arts!  Love it and love how easy it is to use!  I also used another "Kindness" sentiment and added with in Hero's "Raspberry Jam" Shadow ink, my favorite red ink!  This card was created to enter into the newest challenge over at the a2z Scrapbooking Blog, which is all about "Dimension". 

    

     Before I go I want to also tell you about the newest class coming up over at the Online Card Classroom, it's the third in the Watercolor series and this one is card "Watercolors for Cardmakers - Intermediate Techniques.  I've already signed up and am working on some "before class" projects that were shared by Dawn of WPlus 9, who is one of the amazing teachers in this series and also a fantastic watercolor artist.    You can enroll now by, going to this LINK !  Hope to see you in class, the Watercolor series are my all time favorites, so I was thrilled to get my email yesterday!  YAY!

I just LOVE to create...

  ....and today I am so thankful and grateful to have this wonderful hobby to keep me busy and keep my mind of Cancer and the sucky things in life.

    All three of these cards were created this morning and I'll start with my first card, which was created "early" for the January 2016 Card Swap that Deb Nolan hosts and every month over on her blog.  It's OPEN to all and I hope you'll play along sometime...it's really fun and I love it when a new card arrives in my mailbox every month.

  For my card, I chose to go one of the Theme's and I chose "Valentine's Day", so that I could use this wonderful new die from Simon Says Stamp.

 

   This card was also inspired by the new "Die-Cember challenge" being hosted over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog, which you'll find HERE!!

 

    My next card, was created for the newest MUSE challenge, which you'll find HERE!   I'm also sharing a copy of the wonderful MUSE card, that was created by Michelle -- adorable don't you agree?

 

 

   I am so excited to have just learned that this card won an "Honorable Mention" award from the MUSE Challenge !  Woohoo!  Thank you all so much -- it may my day!!

    My last card, again created for a new challenge was inspired by the newest Challenge over at "CAS(e) this Sketch" and I'm also including a copy of the sketch for your inspiration!

             

    That card was also created in a Valentine's theme, using a variety of dies from my Stash.  The larger white heart is an older die from Memory Box and the small red heart is from a set by SSS.  The "Love you" was created with a new die from MFT, which actually says, Love and Adore you, but I used only the "Love you" for my card!   

    And now I'm off to go and rest for a bit...!  Not feeling so hot now, but I'm kind of down today, so that may be why...hoping a nap might be just what I need!

Pups on my mind...

    Today, I had two fun little cards that were created to share with those who have donated or adopted from Paw Affection Dachshund Rescue, which is non-profit based here in Massachusetts. I am honored and very proud to be a volunteer and a member of the Board of Directors for this wonderful Rescue.  If you are every interested in adopting a Rescue Dog, being a Foster for PADR or donation we can always use your help!   You find us on Facebook and I invite you all to stop by and LIKE our page! for this amazing group!  

 

    The first card I created to sent out to a family who just adopted one of our loving Dachshunds, we love to keep in touch the those who adopt and also let them know just how much we appreciate them.  

 

    

    This card is being entered into the December Challenge over at Die Cut Divas!  The die set I used for my cute little Paw Prints, is a favorite from Poppy Stamps.

     My second card is a new little Christmas Card that I colored up with my Copics, and I must admit my "coloring" is not so hot, so I can't wait to feel better and start practicing again!  I LOVE coloring with Copics and have taken several classes, but it's a skill that requires lots of practice and lately, as you know I have not been creating!  Even so, I think the card is cute and it features a sweet little Dachshund from this stamp set by Newton's Nook.

 

     You can find this set of "Holiday Hounds",  HERE at Simon Says Stamp!  I'm also entering this card into the MONDAY Challenge over at the SSS Challenge Blog, which this week's theme is "Just a Pinch" and my "pinch on this card are the fund little sequins that I added, also available at SSS and designed by Lucy Abrams!!  Love them!!

      I am so excited to have all my Christmas Cards in the mail and today I finished up my wrapping...well most of it.  I'm still waiting on a couple of last minute "orders", but I do have the majority of it done and that was a huge task! 

      Hope you are all enjoying your Christmas and Holiday preparation.  I will start doing some baking next week and then it's simply a matter of waiting for the Festivities to being!    Ho!  Ho!  Ho!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Hi everyone,

     I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog much, but that's also because I have not been creating this week and instead am working hard on getting my Christmas Cards all in the main and also wrapping all the gifts.  YIKES!  that sure is a task and I've been wrapping for two days now and still have LOTS to do.

    My oldest son, Brain, also is my "Christmas Baby", his birthday is the 19th, so I have to also get all his Birthday goodies wrapped and in the mail tomorrow!  That task is done and I did send a bunch of things directly to him from his Amazing Wish List..Love them and how helpful they are to me.

   Most of the gifts I am wrapping first are those and his Christmas gifts, which I need to mail out very soon too....but I'm waiting on one more order before I can send that box. 

    I do LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and love to wrap, even though I find it totally exhausting.  I love very very pretty presents under the tree and take a lot of time in wrapping, picking out my bags and paper and putting on lots of pretty ribbons and bows.  I tend to prefer non-traditional colors and you can bet, there is always a lot of purple in my house!  

   

     I did have my first new "Infusion" with the new Cancer med call "Opdivo" and that was on Monday..so far so good and I will be seeing my Oncologist on Tuesday, and then have my second treatment on the 22nd, but will be off after that until the New Year!!
 

    Happily, I'm also very excited to have booked my flights for my next trip out to San Diego, which will be for 15 fun-filling, relaxing and peaceful days in February!  Woohoo!  I rented an apartment at that Allegro Towers, and know I'll LOVE it there.   It's on the same street that Brian lives on and is also close to all my favorite places---including Dick Blick in "Little Italy", LOL!  A store that is a MUST visit every time I go to San Diego.   If you live near SD and want to meet up to shop or have lunch/dinner.  Please send me an email and we can make plans!   I'll be there from the 9th-24th and know it'll be wonderful!    Sharing a couple pics of the apartment I'm renting..it's really nice and has everything I need, plus if it's extra warm, there is a rooftop pool and spa...!  YAY!!

 

Living Room looking out onto the Balcony

Kitchen/Fully Stocked

Not that I plan to cook much, LOL!! 

      ...And now I'm off to get back to wrapping and then I'm taking a break a bit later and going over to visit my younger son (Alex) and his wonderful new wife, Acacia!   I am so happy for them and we had so much fun taking them to San Diego with us for Thanksgiving!  Wish they could come back in February, but it's too hard for them to get time off from work and find someone to take care of their beloved pets...(Two Dogs, two cats, two adorable referrers and a snake, who is my least favorite).  I lvove the dogs, kitties and ferrets, but the snake is NOT for me!!  LOL!

WooHOO!! Creating again...and the WINNER is!!

   Oh JOY!!  Today I have had such a GREAT day!  The sun is shining, we put up some Christmas Decor, I have Christmas Carols blaring on iTunes and I actually "created" a bunch of new cards!   And boy does it feel good to be back at my craft desk again for the first time in weeks.

   I also am thrilled that all these cards came together!   I used my December Simon Says Stamp Kit along with some of my favorite Hero Arts goodies, all from a2z Scrapbooking!!!   

    

   And here you go.....

 

 I think this card is perfect for all, especially the "Men" in our life, which can be hard to design for!  I'm entering this one into the current MONDAY Challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Blog!!

 

    This card is one of my favorites, yet it was so easy to create with the SSS Kit and some of Hero's Black Layering Paper, plus the wonderful "Jingle all the Way" stamp, also by Hero Arts!!    I am entering it into the current "SSS FLickr Group Challenge", which you can find HERE!

I am entering this card into the current challenge over at the MUSE Challenge Blog!

The sweet birthday card is the MUSE Inspiration this week!  I liked it everything was based on a Horizontal design across the card!! 

And last, but my no means least, I'm super excited to announce the WINNER of my Kindness Giveway, which was posted last week!  I gave all the the entries a number, and then using Random.org -- Picked the winner!  

And the LUCKY WINNER is

 Barbara Shoemaker # 9

 

 Barbara Shoemaker said...

My granddaughter, Josalyn is 6 years old. She was at school the other day and a fellow classmate of hers didn't have anything for lunch and there was no money left on her account from the school cafeteria. So she gladly shared her lunch with this little girl and gave her some money to buy some goodies from the school store. I love her so much. She thinks of others many times and shares.

I decided to pick a second name who will be the recipient of a "Kindness Matters" Clear  Stamp set and that winner I picked based on sweet comment, which touched my heart!   And that WINNER is "Deb", who wrote this:

Deb said...

LOVE that stamp set...just haven't been able to afford it, with hubby recuperating from a knee replacement and other repairs that have come up. We just had one of our Amish neighbors come over this morning and help get some big bales moved with their horses out to our cows and horse. Hubby can't climb onto the tractor yet, and I don't use it, so we had no way to move the hay. One neighbor did a couple during the week...but had some trouble so we said that would take them a while...but then another neighbor came over shortly after that and heard we would need more moved and offered to come do it today! LOVE our neighbors they have been a big help to us, and especially now that my husband is not able to do much yet! They haven't heard of this random act of kindness thing...but they sure are good at it!! :-))

     Barbara and Deb  -- Please send my your mailing address!    
CONGRATULATIONS!   

     Please email to me at Purple.Purple@Outlook.com