Lily Pad Cards!

There’s a new challenge blog in town with articles, swaps, interviews, videos, challenges, great prizes and MORE! Check out Lily Pad Cards! [Link: http://www.lilypad.inlinkz.com/]

 It will be fun to see this new challenge blog.

A Sweet and Funny Note from my Etsy friend Nola!

 I just wanted to share this note I got after Nola  who purchased my Art at the Table,   recycled (hot pads)! First of all Nola and I have purchased from each other on Etsy....  we have never met in person but I just know we could meet for lunch and would have no problem visiting for hours as if we were long lost friends..... She even sent me a  huge box of mens ties... someday I will come up with a grand idea of what I can do with them...   see below the kind and funny note and her pic she sent of what she did with her purchase from me... I want to thank her for letting me use her picture and what a cool way to remember a family holiday!  I love your  family "Trivia Trivet".... and your art work... Nola.... I just love what you did with this blank canvas.

 Nola wrote the following

 I'll never have to make a 'to do' list for my Thanksgiving or Easter Holiday Dinners again...it's all on these table mats!

Meal and folks (including someone's dogs) attending are usually the same every year and I jotted some memories of past one's while I was at it...my young son calling his uncle Dick instead of Dave (he'd never met him as he'd been gone for over 6 years without any of us knowing where he was), my sister-in-law dumping the only 2 pies we had that year at the front door as she tripped over the threshold, the fact that the pitcher of milk was for 'looks' only on my country table....no one ever drank it with their meal (pop for kids, coffee for us) and then I noted that I crashed on the couch when the guests went home...really! That's how it goes at Aunt Geo.s!

I mentioned the usual serving dishes I have in the old cupboard that I only use on Holidays and where they came from if heirlooms or family pieces and the table decorations I always use, too.

I say every year that Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday but Easter is always EASIER! You let the alphabet show thru on the mat, so I got the idea from that to say EZ as ABCs. I was gonna put more little drawings on them, but it was more important to me for them to be more of a journal or diary of the day.



Thanks...I can't wait to do the same with the art joural....


 YOUR VERY WELCOME NOLA, I am so glad you loved your purchase and the extra I sent to such a generous person ~ you!

  Here is a pic how they
looked when she ordered them.

 Thanks again Nola for letting me share and I so appreciate you and your fun notes you send me!
You are a blessing!

~thank you Nina for the candy ~

Thank you going out to  Nina of Ginger Pickles Art Studio. I got this nice package in the mail today. See the picture of the goodies.. the Lovers Delight pillow is so FUN. The papers I recieved are new to me, have none like them. What a nice gift to come home to after a busy day at work and driving 30 miles home in rain and wind. Warm house, warmed heart. thank you!

Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Stars

 This is a card for a friend that is turning 60, he lives out in the country so star gazing should be good.  I used stars for the Simon Says Stamp and show some Stars. 
 "party just because"   inside........  you still can!

                                          Happy Birthday....

  May you have a sunny day

 and a clear night,

so you can wish upon

60 stars in the sky!

Here is how I made this card. The base color of the card is gray,  I just have a few star stamps, the bigger stars are from a stampin'up stamp that has the word Hope below the star. I just stamped the image on textured border punch strips in the colors you see and cut the bottom word off and then glued them on the front. Took a black Memento marker around the edges of each square and around the edges of the card. The banner was stamped with dots and the party just because stamp, both $1 stamps from Michaels! The small stars are from a stamp with a background of the word inspire... love this stamp from Catslife Press, but I trimmed around so you could not read the words. I did not do anything fancy but do think it is a good guy card. Thanks for looking.  I discovered that I have few star stamps but way too many heart stamps!

Pay it forward 2011 gift from Lynn

 I want to show off the Charming Necklace that I recieved
 in the mail today.
 This wonderful fun creation came
from Lynn at Trash To Treasure Art

 She came in a lovely box, with a soft handmade pouch with a white ribbon. Such a warm and elegant presentation.

 And she has a crown and is standing on old sheet music. I love my charming charm!

 Lynn,
Thank you again, the workmanship is wonderful and I love that you dated and signed this piece of art you made just for me.

 I sang in our Angel choir at church last night and we truly sing from the heart to praise our Lord.

Her standing on music holding a heart reminds me of the feelings I had when singing in the balcony of our 100+ beautiful old church with wonderful German construction!

 Blessings to you Lynn.

WOW an AWARD

Hi from Minnesota!! I'm excited to tell you that Juls Art Niche has honored me with the Stylish Blogger Award!  I am having so much fun this year visiting beautiful blogs, meeting so many lovely creative people,  getting such inspiration and checking out a few challenges.
 This really helps get the creative juices going and it is fun to meet like minded creative blog friends from all over the world.  Now, upon acceptance of the award I am to follow these rules:


1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
 Thank you, Julie of Juls Art Niche , you have such a lovely creative,  informative blog.
 I have so much to learn yet about blogging.
 Thank you so much for this award.... I had vowed I would be a more active blogger in 2011 and I am excited that you like my blog!

2. You share 7 things about yourself.

 Wow this is hard...
 I am a  creative dreamer, so I dream and don't think about myself!

Seven things about me you may not know:


1) My dear hubby and I were born less than twelve hours apart, at the same birthing house in a small town, met again at age 16, now age 55 I am so much in love with him.
2) My favorite color when I was a kid was Yellow.... now if someone would ask me my favorite color I just don't know! Does that mean I like them all!
3) I sing in two choirs at church, mixed and the Angel choir... that's right I am an ANGEL!!! lol
4) I am terrified of spiders, but snakes, lizards and mice no problem.
5) I preformed at Homecoming half -time, twirling a fire baton!
 High School that is.
6) I was raised on a small beef farm, rural Fillmore County, have two sisters.
7)My dream someday is to have an Art showing of my work in a Gallery, no formal art training, so wish me luck.


3. Award 7 recently discovered blogs and contact them to let them know they've been awarded.
 
Here are the seven blogs I award....
Little Treasures by Sylvia
Missouri Bend Paper Works
Art by Wanda
Altered Art or Tin Can Tart
Allotment Lady Lives Again!
Honeysuckle Breeze
Jacqueline's Craft Nest

also I would like to honor
Addicted Sisters

as special number 8, blessings to you Brenda.
Brenda if this is not a good
time to act on this, don't worry.

Blessings to all of you, and thank you for sharing part of your lives.

Barb

Stamp on Metal Challenge

 This is for the Simon Says Stamp and show some metal challenge.

 I am so thrilled I came up with an upcycled useful item. I used an Altoid tin, sanded it off, and made it into a pretty sewing kit. I have this wrapping paper that has print on top of foil and when sanded a little it makes a wonderful base for stamping. The image inside the kit is stamped on that paper. I think it looks like a old tin print photo.

 Yes this art is on and in metal with a sweet metal heart accent. Just looking at this will make it more fun to get that needle and thread out for mending!

morning with hoarfrost March 11

 Just had to snap a couple pictures before heading to work.... yes we are tired of winter but this is simply beautiful.

Pay it Forward 2011

What a Lovely idea!!!!

I just read about this over at Trash to Treasure Art.




The first 5 visitors who leave a comment on this post will receive a gift handmade by me especially for you.

Here's the catch (but the best part):

FIRST you must create a post on your blog explaining Pay It Forward 2011.

Create and send a handmade gift to the first 5 visitors to comment on your post & who agree to do the same.



No pressure, you do not have to make and send your gifties today, or even tomorrow.


Remember it is a gift from the heart, which takes a little time.

This is all about friendship and sharing.

Blessings~Barb

The cross

 Just had to show the flowers I got to arrange for our Easter sunrise cross at church last year.  A friend and fellow church member helped pay for the flowers and my sweet hubby figured out and made the board to attach the flowers and helped get it on the cross.  We have now started our lenton Wednesday evening services leading to our Easter celebration.  Many blessings to all.

Easter Bunny by the front door!

 Yes, it looks a little funny to have my spring bunny by the front door.  With all the winter white around the yard he just better stay put!

Winter is still here

 I am so ready for spring as you can tell from the previous post... but winter will not give up so easily. This picture was taken today, yesterday was when this fresh coat of white came, the trees were all trimmed in white. It was beautiful but I did not get a chance to take a picture before going to work. Here you see my art bundle still out in the same frozen weather as was January when it was tied to the tree. It will not come down until sometime in April.

Spring Oh Spring please come.

     This is a little Chunky card I made to go
        with a gift for ( Shhhh ) I have not
        delivered it yet and she may visit my blog!               
      Don't you just love the colors of this vintage art.

      Our yard is still all white with snow.....
    when oh when will it ever go....

   Oh spring oh spring please come.

Congrats to Trudi of Two Dresses Studio

Yes Trudi was the only one with the correct guess! In my Valentine package were upcycled coasters. I made them using sturdy paper from outdated calendars, stitched and gessoed, a canvas ready for her to personalize and use.  I am sending them out today, enjoy Trudi and thanks for playing. Come visit again and bring your friends!  Blessings~Barb

Congrats countingmyblessings blog on 100th post

Check out this lovely blog and the beautiful art work she is giving away.  Come and have some fun. Blessings to you!