Giving Thanks for You!!

Hello ladies : )  I hope you had a good week and that you have fun plans for the weekend.  I have to say this has not been the best week I have ever had... Our car broke down on Sunday, our dryer and my computer broke down on Monday, my husband got sick on Tuesday and because he shares EVERYTHING with me I got sick on Wednesday!!! I'm counting the minutes until I can crawl back in to bed LOL

Before I do that, though, I wanted to thank you all for your incredible comments on my bird painting in my last post.  I feel a little guilty as I read them because I am certainly NOT a gifted artist!! I followed an on-line tutorial to paint that bird.  I am positive any one of you could paint the same bird and do it better!! I am very new to watercolor painting,  I can not draw so the picture was first traced on to my paper from the original artists sketch using graphite paper.  The original artist, Louise De Masi, provides a step by step tutorial of how to paint this bird.  Her video is clear and she tells you what colors to mix and everything!!

Thank you for being so sweet but I don't deserve all this praise : ) Give it a try yourself and share your painting with all of us.  : ) Again, you can find Louise DeMasi through You Tube and then she will direct you to her Patreon site where for $6.00 per month you can watch all her amazing tutorials.

I made this card for my niece whose birthday was last week but I want to share it with you today to say a special thank you for always being so nice to me!!

(By the way my computer issues continue so if any of you have tried to e-mail me it looks as though my email address is no good.  It is a good address - and will be back up and running "soon" whatever that means LOL)

BIG (((hugs)))

Supplies:
Saying a Latte! #40-456 by Penny Black
Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX by My Favorite Things
Sentiment is a retired product by Papertrey Ink

December already!??!!

Really?? December is here? I can barely believe it!  Just remember how fast time is zipping by when you are freezing under a blanket of snow!! : ) It will be sunshine and flowers before you know it right?? Well until then let's play some more with Penny Black's "First Snow" release available in the on-line store HERE.

My card today was created using First Snow products with a slight twist.  I have a niece and a great nephew who celebrate their birthdays on Christmas Eve so I pulled out my trusty Misti and made an easy modification : )

I have been a bit MIA again.  I don't know how it happens but time just whooshes by even when I'm not ready! I had a wonderful visit with my family - although it was way too short!!  We did, in fact, spend a great deal of time painting - also sightseeing, playing games, laughing hysterically and eating really really good Keto food!!.  My sister, Susan,  is a very talented painter and is a wonderful teacher to boot so I really learned a lot!!  Susan subscribes monthly Louise De Masi's water color classes on Patreon.  I had never heard of Patreon but I now subscribe too!! I will include a link to Louise's You Tube channel where she introduces a Hydrangea we painted and ultimately directs you to Patreon for anyone interested.  

Here is my only finished painting from our visit but I'm in progress on another painting of a Rose that I hope turns out 1/2 as good as my sister's.

This is called a Fairy Wren : ) I won't point out the things I hate about my painting but overall I really enjoyed painting this bird especially with my sister and niece painting beside me!! : ) To give you some perspective on the size of the painting - the bird from it's long toe to top of his feathers is 9".

That is it for me : ) before I go here is a "boy version" of my COOL birthday card.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by!  I hope your week is off to a wonderful start!!


BIG (((hugs)))

Penny Black Supplies:
Swirly Stitches #51-502
Heap of Happy #30-640
Frosty Hello #30-649
Good Wishes #30-541

First Snow and Flowers??

Hello ladies : )

Not all the sentiments from Penny Black's First Snow release have to be limited to winter themed cards.  I used this sentiment from Bundled Buddies #30-644 on this floral card.  But where are the flowers from?...

I painted them freehand! heehee I found this tutorial on You Tube entitled, by the artist, "The Easiest Flowers I've Ever Painted"  You can see the video HERE.  These two cards were my first attempt trying this technique.  She makes it look easier than I found it to be but it really is a fun technique!!

BIG (((hugs)))

Mom will be 96 : )

Hello friends : ) I hope you are having a wonderful day and that you are enjoying a warm and wonderful fall day.  I wanted to share a card I created for my step Mom who is turning 96 next week. She is strong and healthy in body and mind.

She used to be an avid Gardner and the love of her life, my Dad, actually loves crows!.... I know it, LOL go figure.  I can't say why he does but my dad has a small crow collection.  She calls him her "old crow".  I know they will both get a kick out of this card.

I'm having a blast with my sister and niece! I will have to share some of the watercolor paintings we are doing later in the week.

What are you doing this week? I hope what ever it is - you are happy doing it!! : ) BIG thanks for stopping by!! Have a wonderful day.

BIG (((hugs)))

Supplies:
Autumn Splendor #30-372 by Penny Black

Sentiment a from Papertrey Ink mini stamp set called Birthday Classics: November mini.  I have been unsuccessful in finding a link for this set.  I suspect is is now discontinued.

Let it Snow!

Hello friends : ) I am here today with more inspiration (I hope) using products from Penny Black's newest release, First Snow. : )

You can see the entire new release in the Penny Black online store HERE.

A little song runs through my head when I see this sweet little gift giver...

"if you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it..."   

 Who will look happier? the gift giver or the recipient? It is so much fun to work with such sweet products!!

If you could see me you would see that my face "surely shows" I am happy!! Penny Black blog is featuring some of my cards for the First Snow release today!! I'd love if you could pop over and leave a comment.

Have a great day my friends!! Thank you for visiting me.

BIG (((hugs)))

Penny Black supplies:
card #1
Crystal Frames #51-583
Snow Dancer #30-267

card#2
Cozy Cuteness #30-636
Snowflake Stitched Frames #51-375
Winter Chill #30-627

Penny Black... we go together like...

Oh yeah! Penny Black and I go together like a sweater and winter : )

I am loving the First Snow release!  This card was created using components of some new product that may not necessarily be considered the "main" feature in the set.  Here is what I mean....

This is the new Crystal Frames die #51-583.  This die set comes with six individual dies.  The backdrop for the itty bitty penguins on my card is found in the center piece. Here is a close up so you can see the sweet detail, that is on the four corners of this die, better.

The Cozy Cuteness stamp set, #30-636 has two adorable "main" images and two sentiments but the darling little penguin was actually the "GOTTA HAVE IT!" factor for me : ) The penguin stamp is just about 1 square inch of adorable!!

For your shopping convenience (giggles) I have included a link to the online Penny Black store HERE and also a link to Penny Black blog HERE where you will be blown away by all the incredible inspiration you will find there!

So what is on your plate this weekend?? I will be preparing for some VIP visitors who will arrive from the Seattle Washington area this coming week!! My sister and niece will be here with us for a week. My sister is a gifted watercolor painter and I plan to kidnap her brain!!

Have a wonderful day! I appreciate you stopping by : )

BIG (((hugs)))

Additional supplies:
Winter Chill #30-627

First Snow and Hot Chocolate go together...

Penny Black's "First Snow" release, Hot Chocolate, Marshmallows, pink and brown ink and card making with friends! Is there anything better!! : ) Please have a look at the Penny Black online store HERE to see the entire First Snow release and the Penny Black Blog HERE for incredible inspiration!!

Just a short post for me today.  It is happening again!! I wake up in the morning and seem to hit the floor running - next think I know it is dark again.  The time change last week didn't help but it just seems like the days are whoosing by faster than normal.  I know what I need.... a mug of something delicious and more card making!!

Sadly, you can't see the Wink of Stella that embellished my cup, whip cream and steam but you can feel it can't you!! Everything is better with WOS!!

Thank you for taking time in YOUR busy schedule! to stop in : ) I love seeing you here.

BIG (((hugs)))

Supplies by Penny Black:
What's In Your Cup #51-281
Winter Chill #30-627