Seize your Happy!

Hello friends and thank you for stopping by today! I am here to introduce a new challenge at the Seize The Birthday challenge blog where we bring you a new challenge every two weeks.

The "Toppings" this time: 

"Red White & You"  

I love this little Pinata image from Close to My Heart.  I chose blue for my "you" color addition.  As I went searching for a sentiment to add to my card I laughed out loud when I saw this one.  I thought of that Pinata getting wacked time and again to reveal the treats inside and couldn't help making myself laugh.  I'm easy! LOL

Please join me in welcoming Lindsey owner of Bashful Blogging blog.  Lindsey is our Surprise Party Guest for July and August. You can see her wonderful work by following THIS link : )  When you have taken in some eye candy at Lindsey's place I hope you will hop on over to the STB blog where you are sure to be wowed by our uber talented DT and their take on this challenge.

I was so excited to see 122 entries in our gallery during the last challenge! There are some seriously talented ladies in Bogland!

 I hope you will join us and remember that if you are not a toppings kind of gal anything always goes! at STB just so long as it is a Birthday Card : )

Thank you again for stopping by!

Patti

Serendipity Stamps July Blog Hop #1

Serendipity Stamps July Blog Hop #1

Hello friends : )   Welcome to Serendipity Stamp's July Blog Hop # 1 where the SS Design Team gets to showcase some of the amazing product available at the Serendipity Stamps store.

When you hop with us you increase your chances of winning the $20.00 gift certificate to the Serendipity Stamps Store that is up for grabs!! just by visiting and commenting! Easy Peasy.  You may leave your comments through Sunday.  Mary will announce the name of the winner on the SS blog on Monday July 10th.

Here is a list of the Serendipity Stamps Design Team with links to their blogs.  I hope that you will visit each blog and leave them some love.  We love your comments!

Mary from Serendipity Stamps

Patti Kehl (that's me)

Carol Mayne

Miriam Napier

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer
Marybeth Lopez
Beth Chiu (blog coming soon)

Speaking of love! I had so much fun creating for this month's blog hop that I didn't want to stop!!

Please visit the Serendiptiy Stamps Store where you will find these and other great products including the Stamp Of The Month "Sunflower Rake".  As always the Stamp Of The Month is 50% off

Thank you for stopping by.  I will see you here tomorrow with a new challenge from Seize The Birthday!

Patti

Supplies:
Sun Garden 
Bloom and Sunflower die set
And I Think To Myself

Happy Birthday Verna!

Verna, one our our sweetest friends in Blogland from VA's Creative Clutter blog has a birthday today!  I hope you will join me in wishing her THE happiest of Birthdays!

Verna you have been a constant visitor and friend! Nearly every day my inbox has a kind thought and comment from you.  You are such a blessing in my life and I thank Jesus for you!  Have a wonderful celebration : ) I pray you get to do something very special for your special day.

BIG HUGS!!

Patti

Make a Wish

Hello my crafty friends : ) it is time for Seize The Birthday's Anything Goes" challenge!

There is a new challenge every two weeks at STB.  Some challenges have a suggested theme for you to follow and sometimes it is a "No Topping" or "Anything Goes theme".  We hope you will join the fun by entering your birthday themed card in the gallery! we LOVE seeing you there! : ) No matter what kind of birthday themed card you want to make it is always welcome at  Seize The Birthday!!

I appreciate you stopping by today.  I hope you are having a wonderful week : )

Thank you for stopping by!

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Betting on Serendipity Stamps Blog Hop!

Hello friends : ) I BET you are glad you stopped by today! giggles  Isn't this just the sweetest stamp/die set!?

Twice monthly our fearless leader, Mary, Owner of Serendipity Stamps, hosts a Blog Hop. This is the time of the month you get to take in some delicious "eye candy" while hopping to the Design Team member's blogs.  When you leave a comment you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $20.00 gift certificate to the Serendipity Stamps store!  When you comment at each DT member's blog your chances to win are increased so let's get hopping! : )


Ann Wong has joined us as a Guest Designer this month.  Please join me in welcoming her. You can see Ann's work at "It's All About The Colors" blog 

Mary's Blog

Patti Kehl  (that's me)

Carol Mayne

Karen Amidon

Mariam Napier

Julie Warner

Marybeth Lopez

When you have visited each DT's blog please head over to the SS store where you will find this beautiful Stamp of The Month on sale at 50% off!

Thank you for stopping by! and have a wonderful day!

Patti

Supplies:

Playing Card Sentiments
Playing Cards and Suits Dies

Penny Black Doggie Treat sneak peek

It's time again for my Simplicity Sister's post on Penny Black's simplicity at it's best Blog!

Don't you just wanna scratch that silly pink tummy?  Please follow this link to see how I used this adorable pup on my card for Penny Black.

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Patti

Seize The Birthday - extra toppings for me please!

Hello friends welcome to another Seize The Birthday celebration where the "toppings" are as sweet as our fearless leader Nancy Leppek!

The toppings option this round is:

One Layer Card

If you're not a toppings kinda person, well.....you can just

stick with our usual "Anything Goes"Birthday!

The choice is always yours!

Now on to my card : )

I started out with an A2 size card.  I began by stamping my sweet little image directly on to my card stock.  Then I made a mask and covered her while I made my background.  I tore some Post-It paper and masked off the lower portion of the card and inked up some "grass and then some sky and clouds and some soft circles too!!  Just about this time I really goofed up the upper left side of my card with a big black finger print! (where did that come from!?!) sigh.  Hmmmm ...well as I always say "mistakes are just opportunities" right! LOL so I cut down my paper eliminating the smudge.  I colored my little gal, stamped my sentiment and popped the whole thing up with foam tape and attached it to a new A2 size card.  Perfect right!?! ummmmm well it might have been if this was not supposed to be a ONE LAYER CARD! ahem!!

Ok so back to the drawing board as they say : )

This time I began by masking off the top and left side of the card to give the same layered look of my first card.  Then I recreated my card with just a few changes : )   I am glad I made my mistake because it enabled me to demonstrate (even if only to myself) how a One Layer Card can look every bit as sweet as a card with layers! And it's cheaper to mail too!! : )

Now can we have a collective Awwww! for my all time favorite Penny Black stamp set : ) #30-235 Cake & Wishes.  I really love the adorable faces in this set.  Bear with me while I pitch another great set by Penny Black with these same sweet faces:  #30-242 Way Cool.

Ok friends here are some STB challenge rule reminders for you.  I really hope you will consider joining us for this challenge that goes for two weeks giving you lots of time to link up!

Challenge Rules (to keep things fair):

1. You must make a BIRTHDAY PROJECT, however our topping is always optional.

2. You may link up to 3 projects for each challenge.

3. Please add a direct link to your blog or to an online gallery.

4. You may combine this challenge with up to 4 other challenges and we would really love for you to add one of our graphics to your post.

5. As always, please have fun and make the challenge your own! All products are welcome!

Happy Thursday and thank you so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day! : )

Patti

Supplies:

#30-235 Cake & Wishes by Penny Black
#30-297 Sprinkles and Smiles by Penny Black
#30-353 Words of Kindness by Penny Black
Images colored with Prisma Pencils shaded with Gamsol

June Blog Hop with Serendipity Stamps!

Ahhh June! time for summer fun! and some of that fun includes two blog hops sponsored by Serendipity Stamps!

I created this 4.75" square card using my favorite Floral Cut Background Die and some pretty paper from The yard Sale" at SS.  Please see the complete list of supplies below for links to the SS store.

As always with Serendipity Stamps blog hop there is a $20.00 gift certificate to the Serendipity Stamps store up for grabs.  Some lucky blogger will be randomly selected for the prize from comments made at the blogs listed below.  Be sure to leave a comment on each blog listed to increase your chances to win!!

In addition to our wonderful Design Team this month we have a Guest Designer joining us!! Please join me in welcoming Ann Wong from "It's All About The colors" blog http://itsaboutthecolors.blogspot.com/ 

Mary's Blog

Patti Kehl  (that's me)

Carol Mayne

Karen Amidon

Mariam Napier

Julie Warner

Marybeth Lopez

Thank you for stopping by! and have a wonderful June day!

Patti

Supplies:
Floral Cuts Background die
Seasons dies
$1 Designer Paper Mini Mashup
Happy Birthday Simple
Red and While Polka Dot Washi tape (unknown)
Red Rhinestones (unknown)

CASology and Serendipity Stamps

This week at CASology the challenge theme is "Medicine".  I have included the guidelines for the challenge and some exciting news!! Serendipity Stamps is the sponsor of the challenge this week which means there is a  PRIZE!!  Check it out:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note: It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

This week's winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to Serendipity Stamps' online store!   Serendipity is offering a flash sale on the Sick Puppy stamp set with 20% off!  through June 4th.  

and now for my card:

Please consider joining the fun at CASology for a chance to win some wonderful product from Serendipity Stamps!!

Have a great day.

Patti

Supplies:

Sick Puppy Stamp set by Serendipity Stamps

"Decorative Tile" embossing folder by Provo Craft

Die-Namics Stitched Snow Drifts

Seize The Birthday Something Sweet

This is my second post for the day.  If you are looking for my Penny Black sneak peek for my Simplicity sister's post please click here : ) 

Hello friends : )   I would like to invite you to join us for another SWEET challenge at Seize The Birthday challenge blog!

Our theme for the next two weeks is: "Something Sweet" But as always with STB challenges "Anything always Goes" as long as it is a Birthday Card! I hope you will enter your birthday theme cards in the gallery we love seeing you there!

I had a wonderful time visiting my family in Florida.  My Dad was unexpectedly scheduled for knee replacement surgery a few days before we arrived so our visit was mostly done at a Rehabilitation Hospital.

My fondest childhood memories included singing around the camp fire!  We couldn't take Dad to a campfire sing-along so we brought the sing-a-long to him : )

Shucks! I can't figure out how to get a clip of my Dad singing to play in this post : (  Perhaps you might like to try this link:  Merry Oldsmobile to hear my dear ol' Dad!  I hope this works.  I can see it on my computer but when I try to look at it on my phone it doesn't work.  Let me know if you can see it : )

Edited to add: NOPE! guess it doesn't work.  I will see if I can get some help and post the link in my next post : ) 

My time in Florida was way too short and with my Dad in the hospital I didn't have the flexibility I had thought I would so it turns out I was not able to meet up with any blogger friends, Nancy and Helen, again this trip : ( That was the only bad part about my trip but we'll try again next time!! Sigh.

Don't forget to hop over to the Seize The Birthday challenge blog and see all the sweetness the talented Design Team has created!

Have a great day.

Patti

Supplies:

Dress Up Dolls Basic by Papertrey Ink
Dress Up Dolls: Let's Bake by Papertrey Ink
What The Doodle: Piece of Cake by Papertrey Ink

Penny Black Stitched Flowers sneak peek!

It's my turn to share on Penny Black's Simplicity at it's best Blog!

Here is a sneak peek! of a pretty new stamp set I just got from Penny Black called "Stitched Flowers" Please follow this link to see my whole card : )  I'd love it if you left a comment too!!

Thanks a bunch!

Patti

Serendipity Stamps Blog Hop!!

Today is our bi-monthly blog hop at Serendipity stamps!!

I created this sweet little card using #1341E "Elaphant" and 1386C "I'd Never Forget You!" stamps.  I also used some fantastic patterned paper from the SS's Yard Sale!  I think she is just about the cutest little elephant in Blogland! : )

As all you seasoned "Hoppers" know! a Blog Hop means EYE CANDY and PRIZES!!  simply by visiting my fellow Design Team members's blogs.  When you do be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win $20.00 gift certificate for the Serendipity Stamp store!

Mary's Blog

Patti Kehl  (that's me)

Carol Mayne

Karen Amidon

Mariam Napier

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer

Marybeth Lopez

Thank you for stopping by! This is a scheduled post as I will be sunning myself in the Florida sunshine as this post goes live!!

Thank you for stopping by! and have a wonderful rest of your day.

Patti

Happy Mother's Day friends

I hope this is your best Mother's Day ever!!

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Seize the Birthday with Animals or Creatures

Today at Seize the Birthday we are looking for your Birthday themed cards with Animals or Creatures.

This adorable Llama (or Alpaca, I can't figure out which) is helping me wish my BIG sister, Susan a Happy Birthday!!

I created my opening with both a circle and a rectangle die cut to give a kind of "adobe" look : ) I really like how it turned out and plan to double up on my dies like this more in the future : )

Susan is here with me now.  We are having fun talking and laughing, making cards and taking in a few sights.  We are leaving for Florida tomorrow so I will make this short (are you breathing a sigh of relief! LOL) where we will cram MORE! fun into our day than ever before!! INCLUDING! meeting up with some Blogland friends! so stay tuned for pictures.

Have a wonderful day! and thanks a bunch for stopping by!

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Bursting with Birthdays!

Happy birthday to my kid sister, Beverly.  She turns 55 today!

There are some BIG birthdays coming in my family in the next few weeks.  My older sister turns 65 and I reach 60!! All of my siblings live in different states but this year we will get to celebrate our birthdays together as we will all be together in Florida next week.  I am super excited to see my siblings and finally get to visit my Dad and Step Mom!! : )

I love this fun little stamp set from Penny Black.   It sure makes for a sweet, fast and easy birthday card that is personalized : )

Thank you for stopping by today.  Please consider visiting the Penny Black Simplicity blog for some wonderful CAS cards by some incredibly talented ladies!!

Also let me remind you that you still have time to create an "Anything Goes" birthday card for Seize The Birthday challenge blog!!

And finally I would like to enter my card in the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge!! : )

Thank you for stopping by! if you have time perhaps you will wish my little sister a Happy Birthday : )

Beverly and I taken almost two years ago when I saw her last.

All supplies by Penny Black:
Birthday Bears stamp set #30-427
Party Bears Die #51-355

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Serendipity Stamps Blog Hop!

Yippee Skippee! It's time for the first May Serendipity Stamps Blog Hop where the Design Team gets to show off more fantastic product from Serendipity Stamps.

After preparing my card base and top panel I cut a circle from scrap paper to use as a mask and placed it over the top panel.  Next I inked up the Flower Pops Background stamp and stamped it over the mask using a bright yellow ink.  I removed the mask and then stamped the Daisy in jet black - leaving it uncolored.  Finally I added the sweet sentiment that comes with the Oops a Daisy set.  I love this stamp set!! : )  A little Baker's Twine and a black rhinestone and my card was complete. : ) I must make a lot of mistakes in my life because I can think of about a hundred uses for these darling images : )


You ready to get hopping? before you head on over to Carol's blog don't forget to leave a comment.  Each comment you leave for a DT member increases your chance of winning a $20.00 Gift Certificate to the Serendipity Stamps store!!

Mary's Blog

Patti Kehl  (that's me)

Carol Mayne

Karen Amidon

Mariam Napier

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer

Marybeth Lopez

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a great day.
Patti

Supplies:
Flower Pops Background Stamp
Oops a Daisy Stamp set

Seeing White

My husband, Bob, and I spent six weeks in Arizona and New Mexico starting at the end of February.  One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

We left South Dakota to get out of the snow and cold but we didn't stay away long enough because we woke up to a blanket of snow this morning... the THIRD time this has happened since arriving home a few weeks ago! UGH!! Where is spring?!

I created two springy cards using some of my favorite product from Serendipity Stamps.

My designs were inspired from this weeks sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!

I hope you have some spring in your neck of the woods!! We are looking at a full week of some pretty icky weather but I have faith that Spring can't be too far away!

Thank you for stopping by : )

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti


Serendipity Stamp Supplies:
Floral Cuts Background Die
Birthday Die
Daisy Border Die
love you stamp
Happy stamp from Happy Birthday Simple

Hola Nieta : )

translated: Hello Granddaughter

We've sort of been adopted by a family from Cancun and with it comes the remarkable privilege of being called Abuelos! (grandparents) by, Melina, the sweetest little ten year old girl.  She sent us a picture of herself and a letter written in Spanish! Neither my husband or I speak a word of Spanish so... thank You Lord! for "Google Translate" : )

My card for her was inspired by Dawn McVey's challenge for this weeks "Make It Monday" at Papertrey Ink. The challenge: to create a pattern behind a die cut window.

It may be a little early for the children in Custer, South Dakota to head for the beach but at Melina's house it's too hot to stay at home : )

I hope you have fun plans for the day.  I'm off to the movies to see "Gifted"  with my BFF.

Supplies:
Dress Up Dolls: Summer Fun by PTI
Sun & Surf Stencil Collection by PTI
Noted: Scallop A-2 Die collection by PTI

Sending Hugs

Hello friends!! How I have missed you and all your creativity!!  Here is a card I created for all my blogger friends who have kept me in your thoughts and  prayers and brightened my days with Happy Mail!!

I have been both surprised and blessed at the outpouring of love and compassion that I have felt from so many of the people I have known in blogland - women that I thought were "just strangers".  The months I have been gone I have received dozens of cards and e-mails and they didn't stop after the first months either! It is because of this that I have decided to say a little more about what happened to me.  Many people have asked and some have told me they suspected I had a stroke.  Thankfully it was not a stroke.   

I will try to make this short.  On board ship I collapsed and was taken to the clinic where they found I was in "Diabetic Ketoacidosis" I was in critical condition and because of the Lord Jesus who used the amazing and fast acting captain of the cruise and clinic doctor and nurses - who literally never left my side - my life was saved.  I was sent by air ambulance to South Dakota where I have been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

Though I know millions of people are insulin dependent living with Diabetes... I never had to try to live with it before.  It was a terrible shock and it has been a difficult road.   To complicate things the ketoacidosis damaged the nerves in both feet and my right hand.  This condition is called Peripheral Neuropathy.  It is pain that acts very strange - coming and going and causing severe burning to my skin.  My feet and right hand are numb making walking (and papercrafting) uncomfortable at best.  I am told by specialists that because the onset of the nerve damage was sudden it may get better in time. The stress to my body from the ketoacidosis wrought havoc on my body.  A couple of the less serious yet terribly difficult side effects of this ordeal has been the loss of most of my hair!  and love this.... weight gain! : ( waaaah! 

But that is all the bad news... the good news is that I have an incredible support team in my life helping me with every challenge I am facing.  And it has taken the entire team to get me back on-line! LOL  but I am here and ready to get back to the hobby and the community I love.  

Thank you so much for your love and support.

BIG (((Hugs)))
Patti

Supplies:
Big Hugs die from Papertrey Ink
Forget-Me-Not stamp set from Papertrey Ink