Eclectic Cards by Barb

Superbowl Eve

2012-02-04T13:50:00.000-06:00

Giants or Patriots? Who will you root for? I haven't decided myself yet, but I have until tomorrow to decide! No need to rush! We have been invited to a Superbowl party tomorrow evening. First one we've been to or hosted in a few years.

Here is what I've been up to lately.... Making some OSU, Oklahoma State University, blank note cards for an acquaintence of mine. She says she loves my work.

Here is the first half of collection 1.

I will take orders if you would be interested in any of these cards... Or, if you are interested in another college or university. I would be glad to accomodate your alma mater. These are going for $4 each including a decorated lined envelope too.

I have also been working on some Valentines. I'll post them next time. I don't want to spoil the surprise for anyone. I will tell you that they are tags. I am still hooked on making them since Christmas and I watched Tim Holtz' blog of the 12 Tags of Christmas 2011. Then took a class at Scrapbook N Such in Wichita Falls to learn how to make the first six tags. The next class is in three weeks. I can't wait!

Well here's hoping that you have a great Superbowl Sunday! Hope you are gathered with great friends, family and wonderful snacks.

Hugs,

Barb

Happy New Year! Welcome 2012

2012-01-02T17:29:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone is having a great day. Hubby and I are off of work today with our New Year's holiday. We did some chores outside earlier today and now we are settled down watching some of the football bowl games. We have had a lazy weekend.

Here's a quick update on my headaches.... I changed doctors in November and am now seeing one who only deals with headaches at the Baylor Neuroscience Center in Dallas, headache department. I am doing much better with them and they are fewer and farther between. He changed my medicines completely and WOW! what a difference it made. I do still have some headaches, but they are not as bad and I have better emergency medicines.

I made my Christmas cards this year, but not as many as I would have like to. I also made a couple of Tim Holtz look-like tags. I followed his 12 Tags of Christmas this year for the first time. If you have never seen these, you really need to go to his website and look at them. They are so awesome. Here is my version of the tag that I made this year. I'll do better next time!

I hope you like my Christmas projects as much as I did making them.

If you want details, please email me since I couldn't get anything written on

here about them.

I also wish you and yours a very blessed and prosporous new year.

Hugs, Barb

Triangle Card

2011-09-25T20:38:00.003-05:00

Happy Autumn everyone! It's the end of September and autumn is finally here. I love the cool temperatures and the changing of the leaves on the trees. Mother Nature's color palette is beautiful this time of year. We can use if for our card making backgrounds; and that is just what I did this weekend. We have a very good friend who is in the hospital and I needed to make a get well card for her, and here is what I came up with. It is also my first attempt at a triangle shaped card. It turned out a bit small, but I think cute. I also made the flower myself from scratch. I got the instructions from a pin I got off of Pinterest!! So, here it is:

Here is the front of the card. The tag says "thinking of you." I used three scraps of paper to cover the front, ran through an embossing folder, covered the joining edges with gold satin ribbon then added the flower, tag and butterfly. Butterflies are my latest craze! I just can't seem to make a card without finding a spot for one somewhere!

Now here is my homemade flower! It was pretty simple to do. I cut the shapes from my Cricut using the George cartridge. Now I can custom make my own paper flowers for each card that I want one on from now on. YEAH! Woo-Hoo!!!!

And, last but not least, is my little butterfly! Isn't she a cutie? She sparkles and shines! She has two layers for dimension. I rollered the top one so it would look like she was flying.

Hope you like my card, or at least get some inspiration from it. I got my inspiration from Card Creations magazine, they had a section on triangle cards. Thanks for looking. Have a great week.

Hugs, Barb

Happy Monday?

2011-09-12T13:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I'm home with a migraine, had one all weekend. I've got to call and go see my doctor soon. But enough about me!

My co-worker who is also my friend, and I went to a scrapbook store in Wichita Falls, Scrapbook N Such, recently and spent the day there taking some super classes there put on by Bazzill Papers. We learned how to make 9 cards in 90 minutes, an album and 3 scrapbook pages. We had so much fun learning things and spending the day together doing what we love to do in our spare time. We both have so much passion making cards, that we went back to the hotel room and spent two more hours working on fine tuning our cards and making another couple more! We picked up some quick tips and some new techniques. That is what we hoped for along with just getting away to do what we love to do .... CARDS!

I need to make an auction item for our chamber's upcoming "country fair" which is their annual fund raiser. I have made a set of cards for the past several years now and included them in a really nice gift box, luggage type looking case, with pen, stamps, and address book. So, I've got to get inspired to work on that real soon! It usually will sell for around $50 which makes me feel really good! I have a couple of weeks to work on them, so get after it....

I will get some new pictures posted as soon as I get my cards made for the chamber gift. So, stay tuned! :)

Hugs,

Barb

Summer End?

2011-08-25T23:11:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's the end of summer already. I think everyone has wished it away in my part of the world because of the extreme heat and lack of rain. We had a busy enough summer though for us! In June we had a mini family reunion on Scott's side of his mom's family. We met in South Lake, Texas at a family member's home and had a great time. Most of our kids were able to come home for a week in June too and we got to enjoy them running around the house. I loved hearing them when I came home from work.

In July we had a swim party for the families that I work with. We had so much fun with all the kids there. We cooked hamburgers and hot dogs and enjoyed watching the kids swim like little fish! I'm amazed at the little ones and how they are not afraid to get out in the deep end.... WOW! Susi and Heidi came the last few days of July, spent a week and left a day or so after my birthday. Had another pool party for Heidi's former work friends and had a blast with them too.... We ended the season last weekend with one more with our dear friends the Fulton-Park families. That's the largest party because they have so many kids and grandkids... We laugh and laugh and laugh when they are here... they are not afraid to pull pranks on each other, and that's just the adults!

After all of that, here it is the end of August, school has started... but, we are going to a Texas Rangers baseball game this Saturday. It's my first major league game of any kind. I'm anxious. We bought our t-shirts yesterday, got them washed and ready to go. Our seats are just passed home plate towards first base. Sure hope I don't get hit by a foul ball, or a fowl ball either! (pun intended!!!!) Scott is taking his glove in anticipation of catching one. I was to have a doctor's appointment on Monday, but got a call today saying, sorry, but he won't be in the office... WHAT??? Off one of my meds since May and he's not going to be able to see me until the middle of next month... but the good side is I've lost 30 pounds since then! And, still having frequent headaches.... surprise surprise surprise!

But this blog is intended to share my ECLECTIC Cards that I'm making...

I have made cards lately, so let me upload one now....I am trying to see if I can't find an outlet or retail place to market my cards locally.... but, I guess I actually need to take some time off at lunch and go ask someone if they will let me put them in their place of business! Duh!!!!

I really enjoyed making this simply card. I think it is very pretty and classy looking. I made another one like it and put pearls in the side openings of the label. That dressed it up for the wedding that I made it for.

Well, off to get ready for our weekend adventure at the baseball

game.... talk to y'all again soon, now that summer is over!

Hugs,

Barb

Memorial Day Weekend - THANK A SOLDIER - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. REMEMBER THEM ALL.

2011-05-26T12:50:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe that Memorial Day is here upon us! This month has been so busy. Earlier this month Susi graduated from Tarelton State University, so we were all gathered together to celebrate with her. I followed it up with my quarterly doctor appointment. He is taking me off of one of my meds that has been causing me severe heart issues. Now I know why I've been having problems! :) Well enough on that...

I have made a couple of really cute cards that I have CASED from a magazine. I think they are unique and they are not hard to do either.

Cute little his & hers towels

I am hosting my first fundraiser for our local volunteer fire department this coming Saturday. It will be most of the day. We will have door prizes and food. It's going to be very small this year, but I am not disappointed at all. I will not give up. I will do it again. But, not on a holiday weekend, not on graduation weekend, but on a better - nothing going on - weekend!!! It will still be so much fun. I am going to do a few demonstrations, we'll make things, do our own things, eat and just have a good gal-time day.

Well that's all I have to share for today. Have a safe and wonderful weekend. And, PLEASE, remember why this holiday is....Thank a soldier, a veteran, a reserve for what THEY do for us, what they did for us. For allowing us to live FREE. REMEMBER.... REMEMBER.... NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. IT DID NOT COME FREE.

My Red Thinking of You Card

2011-05-01T18:10:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, hope you've been well since the last time we've been together. I've been okay.

I wanted to share another one of my contest cards that didn't make it this time. I really liked it, but I really like all of my cards! I'm suppose to, aren't I?! Hee-hee!

I made this card on a black cardstock base, then found some black and white designer paper for the next layer. I embossed the red layer with my dotted swiss CuttleBug folder to give it some texture. The white part is a Spellbinders Shapeabilities Pendants die that I also embossed.

Here is a close up of the red and the embossing on it.

This is a close up of the Thinking of You tag that I attached to the front. On each scallop, I "dolloped" a bit of black glaze from a pen that I had on hand. I inked around the white cardstock to tone it down a bit so it didn't stand out so much on top of that red. Tied it all up with the black sheer ribbon, black brads in the corners, and white paper inside to write a sentiment on.

Thanks for looking and spending a few of your precious minutes with me today. Hope I might have inspired you or given you a new twist on an idea for a card. I'm not into coloring much, so I do more of the layering....

Hope everyone has a great week and hope to visit with you again this week.

Hugs....

Hoppy Easter Everyone!

2011-04-23T16:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter everyone.... Hope everyone has their Easter baskets ready for the Easter bunny to come...I bought a small ham, sweet potatoes, rolls and a very tiny egg shaped cake for our Easter dinner. That should be pretty traditional, right?!

We had a really nice trip this past week to College Station and Austin. Scott had a seminar for a week in Austin, and Heidi had parents week in College Station. We were never able to coordinate making it for Travis and could this time for Heidi. We got there in time to watch a football game, have a few beers (cokes for me) and baseball game on Saturday, eat pizza for supper and hangout at Heidi's. Then on Sunday, the usual parent's "duty": fill the fridge and fill the pantry! After that, we headed to Austin for Scott's seminar. Monday was his birthday and we ate at a really nice restaurant on the side of a hill on Lake Travis called The Oasis. We sat outside on one of the patios to eat and watch the sunset. It was a really nice evening and drive out there. My next adventure was on Tuesday mid-day to Salado to go visit a stamp store called Stamp Salado. We had a great trip, I had lunch with two of my Texas LOSTie friends, Suz and Mels, had supper with my sister and her husband, and rekindled some old friendships at Scott's seminar. It was a great week.

While I was gone, my pharmacy called to say that my new prescription had been approved.... YIPPEE! So as soon as we got home yesterday and had unloaded the truck, I ran (drove!) to the drugstore, got my prescription and it was NOT the one I thought it was going to be. It is a type of medicine like I was on in the very beginning of my migraine history that quit working on them. Needless to say, I was VERY disappointed. I took them and will try them, but am afraid that they won't work since the others in their "line" didn't work in the past. I'm afraid I might have reverted back to year one in my meds. That is a year in my life that I remember nothing about. I don't want to lose another year in my life.

Well, on another note.... Remember those cards that I mailed off to the Papercrafts Stamping Royalty contest? Well, they released their winners this week.... and, guess who was NOT on the list.... yup, little ole me! So, I can upload my cards here... I was so proud of them too. Guess it's my opinion against theirs! So today here is the first one.

This is a thank you note that I put together one day, just playing around. I over-stamped some designer paper that I had and it came out really nice, at least I thought so! I stamped the Eiffel Tower and some postage stamps on the paper, tied brown ribbon around the paper and added the merci tag to the front.

Well, that's it for today.... I've got to go do more laundry! It seems like it takes much longer to wash it than it did to get it dirty.... why is that? hmmm!

Hugs to everyone and have a Happy Easter!

Tuesday is a great day...

2011-04-12T21:41:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone has had a great week so far. After my weekend and Monday, Tuesday was a great day for me! I tried one of my new sample migraine pills yesterday at work, and IT WORKED! I didn't have to go home, I did have to close the blinds, wear my sunglasses, but it all passed within an hour and I could continue to work! That is such a wonderful thing. YEAH for me!

Now to show you the beautiful (I think it is anyway!) card that I made for my wonderful friend who turned 60 yesterday. She loved it too...

Left inside.

Front of Card, tied with at tuile bow and the

paper is from DCWV, Mariposa. I love the butterflies that are in it. It is so happy and cheerful. The insides are done with scraps from other pages in the collection. Thanks for looking.

Right inside

I was very proud how it turned out. I embossed the front with one of my cuddle bug folders and then sanded the part that is on the black to give it a weathered look. The left inside was scraps of papers left over from other projects too. The solid green got run through a cuttle bug folder too and the right side was just corner punched and then stamped with the scroll and the phrase. The spratic little butterflies were cut out from scraps and glued on too. Hope you enjoy and get ideas .... Thanks for looking.

Hugs all around,

Barb

Altrusa's Annual Spring Style Show Today

2011-04-09T16:33:00.000-05:00

Just a quick thought or two before I need to get ready to go to our annual Style Show. My part this year was to make chocolate dipped strawberries and sugared grapes. YUMMO! We are doing desserts this year instead of a brunch to see if it will help our numbers in the audience increase. It appears to be a sort of dying event... not too many are interested in this sort of thing anymore, but we keep trying. Our other fundraiser, Soup with Mrs. Claus, is a BIG hit at Christmas time. We do it in conjunction with the downtown Christmas parade and it starts the Christmas season here. It's a family event too. We serve two different soups and the kids can have their picture taken with Mrs. Claus. Well, it's just about time to head to the church and get my strawberries and grapes to their appointed showtime! I'll be back later to write some more for the day and hopefully upload a new card too.

Well, the weather played it's trump card on me and I did not make it to the style show. Had to call one of my BFFs to come get my items as I was in no shape to attend. Scott was even called out for mutual aid in Lefors on a fire. I took my third layer of meds and they whipped my butt today, but now it's been 5 hours later and I am beginning to feel a bit human again. This is the first time I've had to wear my sunglasses inside the house! The sun is just too bright for me and I don't have curtains on most of our windows, but do have the shades pulled where I can.

I almost feel like making a card though... At least I'm thinking about it! That really was my full intent of this blog when I began it several years ago, but it has almost become a journal for me to release my frustrations about my health issues when there isn't anyone around who knows how I feel. It's not my life anymore for a while. Okay, enough already!

Hugs,
Barb

It's me, still pluggin' away...

2011-04-07T20:45:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone who is keeping up with me... I have made a few cards lately. Sent eight off to the Papercrafts magazine for their 2011 Royalty contest! Like I have a chance, but you won't know if you don't try, right?! So, after that is all settled, then I can post pictures of those cards, I don't think I should before hand. I have made some for sale, and when I can get my eyes not so sleepy, I'll get them uploaded for y'all to see. If I'm not too windy tonight, maybe I'll do one or two tonight yet.

Update on my headaches... I've missed alot of work this past month and so my doctor wanted to see me in his office last week before my next scheduled appointment... so off we trecked to the doctor! He had blood taken and ordered an MRI. I told him I hope that something shows up, somewhere, because this has been going on 3 years now and it's no fun anymore! But I did learn a little secret about when to take my night-time/evening meds so that I don't wake up in such a fog. So, that was exciting! No results yet, but I don't expect any for several days. He also tried increasing one of my meds and one of the rare side effects was an increased heart rate.... well, guess what I got? Take a WILD guess.... YUP! The second time in my life that I can remember that I got one of the odd/rare side effects! My rate goes from it's normal 60-65bmp to 96 first thing in the morning to 122bmp when I get home from work and have done nothing strenuous all day. Go figure! I quit the extra increase. I figure I will suffer the headaches vs. a heart attack.

Okay, back to card talk... I'm so stoked up about making cards, I love to send them and I'd love to be able to make some extra money selling some... still working on that angle... gotta find my outlet on that part.

Here is the one I made for a co-worker in Amarillo that has been out after having surgery. I love it so much and wish I had more of that paper to make more! I even cut out one of the butterflies and glued it over one on the bottom and made it three-D. This paper didn't need much help to look super on it's own! It's called The Mariposa Stack by DCVW, so bright and cheerful papers.

Well, guess that's all for this time around. Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening. I am, with what's left of it! I'm going to finish a couple of cards I have started....

Hugs all around,
Barb

3 Days Straight....

2011-03-11T20:44:00.002-06:00

Here it is the 11th day of March and I've been suffering with a migraine for three straight days with no relief. I have taken everything that my doctor has instructed me to use and in the order to use them. I came home from work early on Wednesday, worked all day Thursday (because I thought I HAD to!) and then decided this morning that I needed to stay home and try to self-induce myself into a type of coma to sleep it off... but nothing has worked. I called my doctor, but he had nothing new to offer today. It's late evening as I am writing this and still no relief. My hubby is such a good support for me. He is super about understanding my pain and issues. He tries really hard to be super quiet, and keeping the kitties and puppies quiet too, which sometimes is a BIG challenge! Thanks Honey.

But on a lighter side, I took some pictures of some cards that I am making to try once again for another card contest that I've been mentioning in previous posts. They are due in the mail by March 23rd. I've got one final one to do and then I'll get them off in the mail. I am really satisfied and proud of the way they have all turned out. I will post pictures on here when I know that I can, as of right now, I am not sure if I can or not. I sure don't want to jinx any luck that I might have! I sure wish I could make enough money to make cards full time! I enjoy making them so much. It's my therapy! My "habit", my "fix", my "need"... I just LOVE making cards! Can't you tell?!

I guess I better get ready to head to bed and see if I can sleep tonight.... Hope to have some new cards that I can post here this weekend.

Hugs all around.... Barb

Fire Distraction!

2011-02-27T20:17:00.000-06:00

While my hubby is still out standing-by at the fire station (he's a volunteer), I decided to keep myself distracted by making a couple of cards. This first one is a congratulations card using my new stamp set from Heartfelt Creations called Aztec Gold Sunflowers. I am really pleased with the way it turned out.

The recipe for this card is: a standard card base, an orange background that I ran through my D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder, sunflowers from the stamp set mentioned above and colored with my Copic markers, accented with some black rhinestones and a white highlight. The leaves are from another stamp set in my collection that are separated from their set.

The green ornate frame and the congratulations are stamps by Stampabilities and embossed to a shine! They are popped up on pop-up dots to add a bit of "pop" to my card. The green ribbon is just some 'ole piece of scrap that I had in my ribbon bin... Thanks for looking.

Fire Danger Today, Please Say Prayers.

2011-02-27T16:15:00.003-06:00

Today is starting out just exactly like the Sunday back in the spring of 2006 that burned almost a million acres here in the Texas Panhandle. Today the winds are exceeding 55+mph, the temperature is 75 degrees, and the ground is dry, dry, dry. Evacuations are taking place in the Amarillo area. The dust is blowing so hard here that you can barely see the pasture across the street. It brings back unpleasant memories of those horrible fires of 2006. But, I have gathered our necessities and they are in my pickup ready to go if I need to leave. We started sprinklers around the house to get our grass wet, to protect our home hopefully. The TV stations are doing a great job with updates. Scott is on stand-by at the fire station. I need to go make a round of sprinklers and move them... I'll make an update report when there is more to report. (This is one of my migraine triggers and, I can't do anything about it except suffer through it today. I did anticipate it, so altered my morning meds because of it.)

Hugs and prayers,

Barb

Well, the dust has settle some, I can now see town clearer... but the winds are still there. I don't know how that works, but it does. The TV hasn't reported any new fires. Thank you Lord for that, prayers are being answered I'm sure. But, Scott still is not home though.

Till later... more hugs.

Home again!

2011-02-22T20:43:00.000-06:00

Had a pretty good weekend for the most part in Dallas. On the way, we stopped in Vernon at a Cadillac dealer to check on a car that I thought I might be interested in.... ummm, NO! The one I had my eye on looks just like a Corvette, but is by Cadillac.... look it up, yes, it exists.... The retail price is somewhere around $90,000-$100,000 according to the dealer, and they'd be more than glad to order one for me. Ummm, no thanks, got one in the garage already that I don't drive, so will pass on that one! Guess I'll scratch that one off my list!

Also stopped by a scrapbook store in Wichita Falls that I get a newsletter from quite often. I wanted to see where they were and what they had. Super nice ladies. They put on retreats too, so now, I can decide if I want to participate in one or not now too. They are doing a fire department fundraiser next month which peaked my interest for maybe trying to put one on here for our local VFD. I'm thinking about checking into it.

Saw Susi and the boys on Saturday evening (after I had a much needed nap from traveling that far) and had a great visit. I try to be a good Oma and packed them each a box of chocolate chip cookies! Sunday we got up, almost missed breakfast (oh no!!!) and took off to Winstar Casino in Oklahoma for an hour of gambling. Scott lost his money in no time at all and I played on their money all hour. I did lose a tiny bit of mine, but came home with most of my part. So, not bad at all for the time we were there. It was very loud, and yes, I had my ear plugs in the whole time! I never travel without a couple pair in my purse and more stashed around me...I just never know when I'll need them.

Well, to the main purpose of our trip... my doctor visit... I had already increased my evening dosage on my own a few weeks back (he had already instructed me to do that when I felt like I needed to) and he said that if that wasn't enough, to increase my morning dosage too. If that still didn't help, to call and we'll tweek another med that I take. He also changed one of my other "as needed" meds, which I took after I left his office (he gave me some samples) because I was in pain in his office, good thing so he can see me not so perky! The new med puts me OUT! Scared Scott because he didn't know what was happening to me until he realized I had taken the pill and it had kicked in HARD!!

We were so glad to be home last night, sleep in our own bed and relax. Thanks for everyone's prayers and good thoughts, we always appreciate it so much. It's been three years now to the month and I don't feel alot better, but some better. I am thankful that I have a doctor that is trying his best to keep me out of as much pain as possible. If you've never had a migraine, you have NO IDEA what I'm talking about, the before, the during, or the after. I wish this pain on no one, ever. I'm glad that research is still going on to find out more about migraines. I hope my kids do not inherit the gene that causes them.

I'm through talkin' now! I'm still worn out from the weekend and need to go to bed early tonight too.

Hugs all around... Barb

Hello February, Almost March! Where has time gone?

2011-02-15T21:06:00.000-06:00

I see I haven't written anything in quite awhile. So, I'll tell you briefly why.... Ever since the beginning of the year, my migraines have reared their ugly heads almost daily again and they are not fun to have to deal with on a daily basis. Even with the meds that I have, I struggle a lot of days to not let them whip me and win the battle. I have had to let them get the best of me a few days though. I got to see my neurologist this weekend and we'll see what his take on this will be.

I have managed to get a few, but very few Valentine's cards made for my grandchildren and mailed, probably a day late for a few of them and I am sorry for that. But the prize inside, may have let that tardiness slide! Money does buy forgiveness!! I'll post a picture of them later, as it's still on my camera and it's downstairs!

I have been making some cards to enter into a contest (again!). But, this is a different contest. This is by Paper Crafts Magazine.... I know my work is not as good as their designers, but ya gotta start somewhere and this year, I've started! As I keep participating, I'm hoping to get better. I have until March 23rd to get them entered and I only have one more to make, out of 5 entries. But I can enter more than one in each catagory, so I might just do that too.... give myself more chances.

Well, my head is telling me it's time to say Auf Wiedersehen! I hope to be back soon.

Hugs, Barb

What a Cute Purse!

2011-01-23T20:24:00.002-06:00

I needed to send a thank you note and thought what a cute idea but to send it in a purse! So, here's the bright one that I made first. It's with a new stamp I got at the Heirloompro Festival that I went to a couple weeks ago that I mentioned in a prior post. This stamp is from Toomuchfun Rubberstamps. They have so many fun stamps to choose from.

I used scraps of paper that I had on hand to make my first purse thank you note. The paper is so bright and cheerful. I used a sparkle glitter pen to enhance the gathers and clasp. I stamped thank you's all over the inside before I wrote my personal note.

This purse I made out of a more vintage looking paper and thought it looked like an elegant evening bag.

The hardware part of the bag, I took a beige part of the same paper and just kept embossing it until I had built it up to the high gloss look that I got. The chain handle is part of a necklace that I found on clearance at WalMart, cut down to the size that I wanted.

I hope to make a lot more of these and put them into my inventory for purchase. I am excited about them! Hope you like them too.

I also want to thank everyone who has made such nice comments on my card that I have entered into the DeNami Sketch Challenge. It's my first....

Thanks for looking..... Hugs all around, Barb

DeNami Design Sketch Challenge #6

2011-01-18T20:54:00.000-06:00

Here is my card that I made for the sketch challenge on DeNami's Blog. This is my first attempt at any sketch challenge and I really enjoyed doing it.

Supplies are: Stamp - DeNami Design wreath, Cardstock- The Angel Company, Ink - Versamark -Hint of Pesto, Designer Papers - scraps on hand, The Robins Nest - pebbles, SU- clear embossing powder, Cuttlebug Embossing folder- Spots & Dots and Spellbinders- Classic Scallop Circles, Large. Oh, and a very small little Martha Stewart punch butterfly, that is outlined with a Clear Stardust Gelly Roll pen. (You can click on the picture for a larger view.)

Now I need to link this to their homepage and follow the rest of the directions! Now to also make another one to put into my collection!

Have a great rest of the week.

Hugs all around,
B

New Look???!!!

2011-01-16T22:55:00.001-06:00

I'm trying to change up the look of my blog and I've got a few, okay, quite a few, things to tweek! I've got to get rid of these dots, move my heading over and see what else needs to be improved on. I was so 2000's looking! I must get up to par! So, please bear with me through the construction /renovation period....

Today I started off the day with a migraine, haven't had one as bad as today in a long time. I did not get up until noon, can't say that I'm proud of that, but that is just what happens some days. I did manage to get the Christmas decorations down and packed, moved upstairs, and just a few feet away from the attic where they need to go live for another 11 months! Except that now, the house looks empty!

Tomorrow is a holiday for us. We talked about going up to Canadian to a museum there that opened about 2 years ago I believe. They have some incredible displays there and I've always wanted to go. So we are going to venture there I think. I've got a dental appointment for a cleaning, but I am going to call them and tell them that I have a better offer - a date with my husband! And, my husband always wins!

It's late, and I really need to head to bed.... Until next time....

Hugs all around,
Barb

I got rid of the dots! YEAH! for me!!!!

It's A New Year!

2011-01-15T22:44:00.003-06:00

Where did the time go inbetween now and Thanksgiving? I think it just flew by! We had a great Christmas as we spent it with my sister down by Austin. And, I must confess, I still have Christmas decorations out! They are gathered up, and need to be put up in the attic, not out on "display", so don't shoot me! :)

I got to go to a rubber stamp and paper event in Grapevine, Texas last weekend put on by Heirloom Pro. I had so much fun touching, talking, learning, making and just soaking up all the things rubber (stamps that is!). I took a couple of workshops and learned some new techniques that I will use again (soon so I don't forget how to do them.). I recommend their event to everyone. I spent way too much money, way more than I planned, but I just couldn't help myself! I hope to improve my expertise with what I observed and learned.

This is a blank note card that I used a damask background on. It is one of my favorites.

The saying is from Flourishes Cherry Blossoms stamp set. I added black jewels around the middle scallop oval and pierced holes in the black scalloped oval. I used one of the techniques that I learned on embossing with the Spellbinders. It makes more sense to me than the ways I was trying before! I guess to each his own on what makes it "click"... like back in school with the right teacher!!!

Have a great weekend and week. Until we meet again....

Hugs all around,

Barb

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-22T20:49:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've written anything to y'all! A few things have happened since then... where do I start? Let me see where I left off.... Okay, not as much has happened afterall... I did get a few autumn cards made and sent out, not as many as I had hoped for, but some. I have worked some more on my Christmas cards. I have decided on two different designs, but they both are very similar, so I can still use all my original parts and pieces.

I can't wait to have turkey, dressing and all the trimmings on Thursday. It's one of my favorite meals! Mmmmm.... smell it already. Pumpkin pies, pecan pies... the list just goes on and all...

I know this is short, but I have to get ready for the holidays.... see you on the other side....

Hugs all around,
Barb

Almost Halloween

2010-10-28T12:00:00.000-05:00

I've had so much fun this year making my Halloween cards for all my friends. I got the cutest stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers. It is called Broom Rides. There are lots of stamp sets at Mark's Finest Papers that I have my eye on, that I will return to them for more purchases..

Can't forget a decorated envelope

Such cute little spooks going out a haunting!

Last night we went to our church and participated in the Trunk or Treat event. It was actually a lot of fun. The kids were so cute. It was our first time to go to one and was amazed at how many people were out and about with their little ones. A good time was had by all!

I am also recovering from a minor surgery this past Monday... so, I hope to get up and around this afternoon and work on a few cards to get ahead of the game for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I really need to get my Christmas cards finished... the bases are all cut out and most of them stamped, but need to do the detail work... I am so afraid Christmas/December 1st will be here and I won't be ready! But I vow each year NOT to do that, but alas, I procrastinate once again... but maybe not this year... Yeah, right... who am I fooling but myself? No, not this year! Stay tuned to see if I am or not...

Have a safe and Happy Halloween with your little spooksters... Hugs all around... Barb

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Think Pink

2010-10-06T20:24:00.000-05:00

Think Pink! This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month... Please make sure your loved ones have had their mammograms done every time they should.

Well, the last time I wrote, I mentioned that I was ready to submit a card to a magazine... well, I did it! I dropped it in the mail last week. Now I sit with my fingers crossed that someday I'll see it in a magazine. It may be many months down the road and of course, I'll have to buy every issue for the next year or two to find out probably!

Our local Chamber of Commerce is having their annual fundraiser on October 16th and has a silent auction as well as a live auction in conjunction with it. I made a dozen cards with envelopes and put them in a cute locked box that I got from Hobby Lobby that looked like it was covered in old postcards. Oh, and I also put a small address book and a green rhinestone pen in it too... get it? GREEN?! I hope it will bring lots of money for them. It will also tell me if I'm any good or not too. I had a friend help me decide what to call my entry and I just loved what she came up with and I think that is what I'm going to my cards... Eclectic Cards by Barb.... I printed it on a tag that I had that looked very eclectic itself, then tied it onto the handle of the box with some twine.

I also uploaded some cards onto my gallery on Splitcoaststampers.com you can see they are the ones that are dated October 6, 2010. It's just a sample of some of the cards I did for the Chamber's event. I think my favorite though is my Halloween card! I'm going to make several more of those and mail them to my LOSTie friends and my friend friends! They know who they are.

I've got to go now. I've been fighting a migraine for two days now and I really need to head to bed and get some rest. Thanks for spending some time with me today.

Hugs all around,
B

I think I'm ready....

2010-09-09T20:35:00.000-05:00

I think I'm finally ready for my first card submission to a magazine.... I've done this card over and over about 4 or 5 times! I finally did one that I am 100% pleased with! You know that feeling... you look at it and then you see it...that smudge! Re-do it, all done....check it out again....oh no! The marker bled... gosh can't a girl get a break? Okay, so use prismacolor pencils then... aaaahhhh, no smudges, no marker bleeds, no outside the lines, everything seems to look perfect. So, what's wrong with it? What am I missing? There has to be something wrong with it! No card is EVER perfect. My momma told me so! "Nothing homemade is ever perfect" is what she always told me. So, I've always looked for that flaw in everything I do and then re-do it! Again, and again, and again... you know what I am talkin' about...

Anyway, back to the beginning. Here is my card, I used my newest PTI stamp sets Friendship Jar and Friendship Jar Fall Fillers, TAC cardstock, Martha Stewart edge punch, Prismacolor Pencils, ribbon that I had on hand and Stampin' Up Artichoke ink. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Have a great weekend and a great upcoming week.

Hugs all around... B

Back from the Doctor

2010-08-31T09:53:00.002-05:00

Went to see me neurologist in Dallas this weekend and got home late yesterday evening. He's going to increase one of my meds until I don't have any more headaches. It was also our 8th anniversary weekend celebration. We went to Winstar casino in Oklahoma and spent some time gambling there. I didn't do so good money-wise nor head-wise. All the noise got to me this time, but stuck it out for about 2 hours. We enjoyed ourselves. We also stayed in a new area at a less expensive hotel that turned out to be just as nice as what we were staying in, but half the price! Deal!

While we were gone my PaperTrey Ink Halloween stamp set came in. The one named Friendship Jar Fall Fillers. It has some Halloween and fall stamps in it. I can't wait to use it.

Hope you have a great week. I'll show you what I make with the new stamp set when I get it done.

Hugs all around. Barb

Summer Cards

2010-08-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

Here's what I have been able to get made this summer. I got this wonderful paper for my birthday from my co-worker Judy. She has a fabulous hobby like me!! Cardmaking!! So, of course, we share ideas and materials! Anyway, she got me this tablet of vintage looking pale blue and browns designer paper. I have been loving the cards that I am working up with it. I have taken a couple of pictures of my finished pieces before they get mailed out. I also have fallen in love with my latest acquisition of Waltzing Mouse Stamps called Vintage Labels 5. I've been using them to "outline" my sayings and then on the envelope for the address. Here is a couple of my latest "designs".... enjoy and CASE if you'd like... just give me credit for the inspiration! Thanks for looking and have a great weekend..... Hugs all around, B

This is my vintage thank you showing the envelope that I made to go with it. I also inked the edge of the envelope to "add" something to it too.

And, here is my vintage birthday card. These papers remind of what I would've seen in my grandmother's house if I had ever been able to see in her house. (I was born after they both had passed away.) I have just fallen in love with these prints

End of Summer Already!

2010-08-27T18:24:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's already the end of August! School has started... where did this summer go? Well, our summer was very busy. Every weekend in July and most of August we had something going on at the house. Some sort of gathering! We enjoyed all of them, but I am sure tired now and it is catching up with me. Hope you had an enjoyable summer too, lots of wonderful memories. I spent more time outside this year than I have the past few summers. That's a GOOD thing! I started taking Advocare too. That is to help me feel better and drop some weight off of me that my headach meds helped me put on. If you want to know more about it and how I'm doing on it, just give me a holler.

I've made several cards over the summer too, I just need to get off my tail-end and get them uploaded somewhere! They are still in my camera on the memory stick. That's a safe place for them.

My daughter has started selling Pampered Chef also for extra income, so if anyone wants or needs any of that, she is more than willing to hook you up with some quality kitchen cooking equipment. She is doing this to supplement her part-time employment while she is attending college. We all know how expensive that can be!

Well, I guess that is all that is new with us for the time being. Happy End of Summer to everyone and have a safe Labor Day because I probably won't post anything new before then.

Hugs all around,
Barb :)

Happy Birthday America!!!

2010-07-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

Here it is almost Independence Day. WOW! What a wonderful day to celebrate, America's independence. I am so proud to be an American and for all that we stand for. I am red, white and blue through and through! We will celebrate with a gathering at our local volunteer fire department, then off to see the fireworks display, followed with homemade ice cream.... yummmy! Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and baseball...

Hope you have plans made for a fun weekend and remember to observe what we are really celebrating: American's freedom. Our freedom.

Happy Birthday America and many, many more!!!

Memorial Day 2010

2010-05-31T17:52:00.000-05:00

Today is the day that we honor those people who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I have many in my family past and current who have served in the armed forces. I was always proud to say that they are in my family and still am proud to say they are in my family. I believe in the need for them to continue to fight for our country.

Had quite a busy weekend, graduation party on Saturday with fantastic food and cards afterwards. Sunday, we worked in the yard and got it all mowed, weed-eated and the pool cleaned, then sat around the pool with some adult beverages while we cooked some steaks on the barbeque pit. Another YUMMY meal! Today, we are just pretty much vegging out. Helped Heidi clean her closet out, then she had to go to work, Scott and I are just vegging! Great movies on LMN channel.... Oh yeah, and we both got a great nap worked into the schedule!

I'm going to try and make a few cards in a little while after I get caught up on a few more things on here first.

Talk to y'all soon .....

Saturday, Cold or Allergies?

2010-05-15T21:01:00.000-05:00

I haven't done much today, fighting a cold or allergies, not sure which they are... but it's sure making me feel pretty crummy! I cleaned up my craft room corner last night and now can find everything a bit easier! I organized my papers and stuff. I'm just about ready to make some new cards again. I have used up all my reserve cards, so need to replenish.

Been watching a movie called "Just Like Heaven", it's a fantastic movie. I highly recommend it. Now I'm going to watch "The Blind Side". Hubby is out playing cards, so I get movie night while I'm foggy in the head! But the popcorn is good... Yum.

Gotta go... more next time. Hugs all around.

It's Wednesday

2010-05-05T21:50:00.000-05:00

The week is half over and three days of physical therapy down, three to go... I was soooooo sore from Monday's workout! It was good for me though. I can sure use the exercise!

I'm hoping to be able to get some cards made tomorrow evening. Tonight I helped with Sunday School on Wednesday at church, would that make it Wednesday School? The kids are so cute and "hungry" to learn more. Even I learned more...

It's late and I'm headed to bed...Will check back in tomorrow evening.

Hugs all around...

This is one of my favorite cards that I've made. Thought I'd finally start sharing my cards with you. I need to make some more like this one, just 'cuz!

Monday & Therapy!

2010-05-03T20:23:00.000-05:00

Today was a typical Monday.... work, lunch, work, physical therapy! OUCH! I got a good workout and I'm hoping that I will work some of the extra baggage off that I have picked up...

I hope to get something done around my "idea" desk, like move it back into the room it's suppose to be in and not in the living room anymore on the card table... eeeek! Hubby has been so very good not to complain, but I feel like my time is running ever so short.

Well, off to see what I can get done in the next hour before bedtime... I won't be around tomorrow evening because I have an Altrusa meeting and it will take up most of my evening. But, I will return on Wednesday evening after church.

Hugs all around.... share one with someone and make them smile.

National Scrapbooking Day

2010-05-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

I totally forgot to wish everyone a HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!!!! I hope everyone will do some sort of scrapping, whether it be a 12 x 12 version or a 5.5 x 4.25 version!!! I was once told that a card is nothing more than a minature scrapbook page! I used to say that I could not scrapbook until someone told me that. But, I still hardly ever, ever scrapbook a 12 x 12 page. It's not my niche.

Okay, off to start me day so that I can do something scrappy. Hugs all around!

Busy Weekend

2010-05-01T09:55:00.002-05:00

Good morning everyone.... I have a busy weekend coming up, so and writing this a bit early! This afternoon I have a Southern Living party to go to, cards tonight, and then two baby showers tomorrow!

This weekend I hope to finish my little tealight cake that I made from the instructions posted on SCS. Here is the link to the instructions: cake. It's a very simple project and cute too! (I wanted to rename my link, but just couldn't figure it out until I was ready to go to bed! But I will master that skill soon I hope, because I don't have a clue what I did to get it done!) When I get my tealight cake completed, I'll post it here...

Well, I'm off to start my day and party, party, party!!! Happy Weekend everyone!

Happy May....

2010-04-30T21:18:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! I am sorry that I've been awol for awhile. I just didn't have it in me to write, plus was a bit busy this spring. Not sure what I did in March, but April brought my Altrusa Conference in Lubbock, TX. It was a GREAT weekend until I got a migraine then a plugged up ear from allergies that hurt like all get out! That is still not completely healed up yet either! The following week we were in College Station while Scott went to his treasurer's seminar. I got to lounge around the hotel, get some shopping done and tried to heal my ear plugging.

I think I'm ready now to get back to some of my initial goals that I had when I first started my blog. I want to post some of my work and be able to maybe see if I'm good enough to join someone's design team. That would be just so cool I think.

Anyway, I'm back, hopefully to be back regularly! Have a great weekend! Hugs to everyone.

Happy Wednesday

2010-02-17T20:11:00.002-06:00

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week after Valentine's. Scott and I got away for the weekend for our Valentine's celebration. We had a great time in Norman, OK and Grapevine, TX for the weekend. I got to add a new Mark Roberts Elf to my collection, Forest Elf is his name. I got hooked on them years ago, and only pick up one or two a year generally.

I hope to get some of my cards posted on here as soon as I can get my energy level up to speed again. I've been told that I am borderline diabetic and am learning to eat differently and learning to watch what I can eat. It's been a challenge to do too. I keep craving more and more sweets, but try to curb it with fruit and yogurt stuff.

Well, I'm off to try and create something cardstock-ish! Talk to you soon and thanks for checking on me.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T21:02:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone was able to celebrate today with their loved ones. Scott and I are on the road to my doctor appointment in Dallas tomorrow. We woke up to snow in Norman, OK where we spent the night last night. We thought we'd left that at home! But it sure didn't last very long, then we caught up with the front driving south and went through it all again, but was not bad. We've had a lovely time, went to the Riverwind Casino last night and gambled a few hours. Then today, I got to add another Mark Roberts elf to my collection. Grapevine is an adorable little/not so little Dallas suburb. They have a really wonderful "old town" area with gift shops, eateries, and other things. We want to come back and take in more of that next time. Dinner was at Saltgrass and we had a great steak dinner. I know it's not very late, but I am so pooped from driving that I am ready to head to bed. Stayed tuned for my next chapter... after the doctor appointment tomorrow! I'll be back on Tuesday or Wednesday with that update. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Hug someone, they really need one.

LOST tonight!

2010-02-09T20:21:00.003-06:00

I'm sitting here watching one of my favorite TV shows: LOST! My LOSTie friends are "here" too via cyber-watching...

I got my Valentine's all signed, sealed and ready for delivery in tomorrow's mail. I hope all the recipients like them... I will do my best to get a picture uploaded for tomorrow of my project. I am so excited to have gotten them done ahead of time, I'm hoping that's the way I operate my card making all year!

I am thankful for the support that my co-bloggers aka LOSTie friends have given me to jump off and start this blog. Thanks friends...

In the beginning....

2010-02-08T20:38:00.000-06:00

This is my first time to say hello as a blogger! HELLO! I'm so excited to be here and venture out into the world with my fellow bloggers.... This opens a whole new world to me and hopefully you will be here to share it with me.