Back at it again...

I have been absent from the blogging world for some time. Okay...I've been gone for a looooong time. I'm back and ready to share my scrappy creations with you again!! So much has happened in last *almost* two years since my last post. I won't bore you with the details, but I will mention that I got Mono a year ago and am *STILL* feeling the after 'effects'. If you've EVER had mono, you know what I'm talking about!!! The mono brought on anxiety and muscle pain issues, both ailments I am slowing but surely overcoming. Crafting truly IS the best {and cheapest} THERAPY there is!!! 

Here are a few projects I worked on these last two weeks. The card was for a "Just Because" swap and the 6x6 layout was for a "Use Your Stamps Sketch Challenge", both from the Scrappy Chicks Facebook Group I'm part of {local group}. 

 

Card: Cardstock is from my stash; sentiment is from a TAC stamp; patterned paper is from Paper Studio

Layout: Stamps are from Studio G Ditto. collection: Love, Cherish Honor {the heart, sentiment and background stamped sentiment are all from this set}; patterned paper is from Pink Paislee's It's the Little Things 6x6 pad; the ribbon and cardstock are from my 'stash'; and, the brad is from Paper Studio's Spare Parts.

Pardon the bad pics, I used my phone to take these pics because it was easier to upload to FB, hehe. My phone takes fairly good pics, but it doesn't 'get' the lighting like I wish it would. 

Here's hoping all has been well in your world since my last post and/or your last visit. I'm so glad to be crafting and blogging again!!

Happy Crafting,

~ Virginia ~

Operation Write Home's Independence Day Blog Tour & Quick Update

I am excited to participate in OWH's Blog Tour this holiday weekend! I know I have not been posting for a while...again! The hubster has been working extra days, and Nico has been taking late naps thus resulting in late bedtimes.This leaves me with not much time for posting. I try to use my "free" time to tidy up and just make cards. I am getting my first batch of cards ready to send to OWH! I haven't been feeling 100% either, but I keep forgetting to schedule an appointment with the Doc. It doesn't help my health that I am such a GUY when it comes to sports fanaticism! The NBA Finals (Go LAKERS!) and now the World Cup have put my nerves in a frenzy for the last month-and-a-half! I was so heartbroken that our boys were eliminated a week ago, but a couple of my favorite teams are still in. The Hubster has to work on the 4th again this year, so we'll be headed to my sister's on Sunday (my Dad is supposed to BBQ there, YUM!)

I made this card today while Nico napped, so there is no stamping on it at all. I didn't have any more stickles, but wanted to create a Firecracker effect on the ribbon "candles" so I used some Valentine's Day ribbon that had sparkly threads and voila! Hope you like it!

I have no wise words about freedom or the fight for independence today, but I leave you with this video that still gives me chills...even though we didn't make it all the way.

*This video was created by a young fan who was inspired by Donovan's goal.

This is what I love about sports...for one day, soccer fans (and those new to the sport) united to support our U.S. Soccer team---no matter what our ethnic backgrounds, religious or political views were, for one day we were all just American fans... cheering on OUR team, hoping against all odds for just one goal, and chanting. "USA! USA!" It is a testament to the American spirit and how we unite to support those that need it, be it our national sports team, our neighbors or members of the Armed Forces serving miles and miles away.

Happy Birthday, USA!

Have a Happy and Safe Celebration!

Until next time...

Creatively Me,

Virginia

Why I scrapbook...(and a sketch challenge!)

Wow! Is it me or is time just flyin' on by? We're almost half-way through the year! With that in mind, here are some pics of my little one and the things he does that make me glad I scapbook.

I sat in this same chair when I was Nico's age. Yep, it's a 35 year old chair! Nico loves to find creative ways to sit on it...

...he also likes to find odd places to sit  in. This is the HotWheels car bin.

I want to remember every little quirky thing he did as a toddler, and I want him to be able to share my memories with his kids someday.  I have been busy making cards mostly, but I am still scrapbooking. I am trying to be better about completing my layouts. I usually leave the journaling for last and then never get back to it. I'll post pics soon...

For now, here is my card for the Start and Stamps Sketch Challenge. Make sure to head on over to the OWH Stars and Stamps Blog  to "ooh" and "ahh" at ALL of the beautiful cards submitted.

Stampin' Up! cardstock, Patterned paper and Birdie are from WeRMemory Keepers' Nonsense Scrap Pad, Rub-on alphas from American Traditional Designs

We're homeschooling through the summer so I'd better get back to lesson planning. This will post at a decent hour on Tuesday...you don't want to know what time it really is right now! Like I always say...sleep is overrated! I try to at least get those 7 hours in every night, but usually come up short--sorry, Dr. Oz!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Until next time...

Creatively Me,

Virginia

Sketch & Throwdown Challenge...

I finally made a card for OWH's S&S Sketch Challenge and their Midweek Throwdown Challenge! Here is my card for the Sketch Challenge:

You can see the all the submissions for the sketch challenge by clicking here.

The Midweek Throwdown Challenge was to make a Guy Themed card as per the Shipper's request. Read more about the challenge and see all the submissions by clicking here. Now for my card:

I'll have to come back and add the card "ingredients" later. Right now, I am SUPER tired! NBA Finals (GO LAKERS!) and the World Cup (USA! USA! USA!) are keeping me up late and making me wake up early!

Have a great weekend and come visit again soon. I'll be having monthly blog candy and will be drawing a winner from all the monthly comments. Christy from Lone Pine Desings won the Surprise Blog Candy from the OWH Memorial Day Blog Hop!

Until next time....

Creatively Me,

Virginia

No cards today...

I didn't have time to make cards yesterday or today. My Princess (my niece, Riane) graduated from Kinder yesterday! I can't believe how much she's grown! Here she is:

Since I have two boys, SHE is my PRINCESS!

She is such a joy to be around. She's 6 going on 16. She's funny and bright.

This little girl is going to break hearts some day.  She's going to set trends. She's going to break glass ceilings.

As their graduation banner read: The Sky is the Limit...

for this Princess.

I hope I get to my craft desk tonight and play with some of the free digi stamps I got from the blog hop. I am new to digi stamps, but I think they might become a fave. My crafting space is SUPER SMALL, so going with digital stamps will save me lots of space (& money!) I am not too convinced by the Digital Scrapbooking, but we'll see. Maybe I could go the Hybrid Scrapbooking route.

Since I have no card to show you, here's a card I made for my Hubby last year for Father's Day. It's not the greatest pic, and it was a VERY simple card.

Yikes! It's almost midnight!

CS is all SU! as is the stamp. The brads are from my stash.

Until next time!

Creatively Me,

Virginia

Blog Candy Pics, Two more cards, and a FEVER!

I meant to post the Blog Candy pic yesterday, but my little one decided to get all fever-ish on me! I don't know why some people say that your worries ease up with your second child because you've already "been through it" with your first. I worry more now than I did when Corey was Nico's age 10 years ago! I blame the internet..hehe! Too much information out there on what could be causing the fever!

Since Nico didn't nap very long, I wasn't able to make a card yesterday. But, he did nap long enough for me to take pics of the BC and the other cards I'd mentioned yesterday, so here they are:

I started on a card for OWH's Sunday Sketch and hope to finish it tonight so I can post for tomorrow. I'm going to try and do the Wed Challenge too...gotta go looking for gold!

'Til then...


Creatively Me,
Virginia

Still Blog Hopping... and a Thank You!

WOW! I cannot believe how many wonderfully creative ladies (and gents~Eric~) there were on the OWH  Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop! If you are still "hopping"--like me--please scroll down for my OWH Blog Hop post or just click HERE.

Thank you for all the wonderful comments and especially, for your thoughts and prayers for Roger and his family. I will pass those on when I see his sisters. 

I have some Surprise Blog Candy for all who posted a comment! I meant to offer Blog Candy, and just forgot to add it in for that day's post ...silly me!  I'll post the candy pic later today, and will draw a winner on Wednesday, June 8th so everyone has time to get through the hop. I'll have my youngest assistant draw the winner.  (I can only ship in the U.S.-sorry!) This is my first time offering Blog Candy, and I hope to do so at least once a month. So make sure you come back to visit often!

I am so glad that I came across Operation Write Home. I have always believed in the power of handwritten letters. They are a tangible way to hold onto someone far away. I am committing to sending at least one box of cards each month. What is your personal commitment to OWH? How many cards do you make each day?
I have been making a card each day while Nico naps. So far I have 3 cards completed and 9 ready to be assembled!

I hope all my new visitors keep coming back to see my creations. I may not always post about OWH, but know that all cards shown will make it into my box for OWH! 

Here is one of the cards I made:

The card base if from a K&Co card set shown in my post here, the plain CS is from SU!, and the patterned paper is from a Making Memories kit I found at Ross for only $2.99! The ribbon is from my Bobbin Ribbon stash, and the brads are from CTMH. I stamped the HB sentiment with ColorBox ink using a Michael's Dollar stamp.

I have two more to show you, but they're not loaded onto my pc yet. I took the pics with no memory card in the camera...hehe!

Have a Happy Tuesday!

Creatively Me,

Virginia