CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Sassy Cheryl knows we are all mighty busy this time of year so for the next two weeks, the challenge is to post your favorite Sassy Cheryl creation from 2013.  Not much of a challenge, you say-hah!  I beg to differ.  It took me quite a while to decide on a card to post here.  

For one thing, I don't always like my own creations---they just never look good to me even a few weeks out.  For another, I had a chance to see what the other DT members were posting---

oh, my goodness.  This is worth a blog hop, people!

It's mighty hard not to compare, isn't it?  

When I did scroll through a bunch of my cards, I actually did like some of them---but a favorite?!  Now, folks, I am a mother of five and a former school teacher.  I learned a loooonnnggg time ago, not to play favorites.  I kept coming back to this one.  It's RED-red makes me happy.  The inside is finished and equally as important as the outside.  True confession here, I don't always finish the inside of my cards-in fact, they are usually blank until I get ready to send them.

So, friends, go through your creations and find your fave Sassy creation from 2013!

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, as I do, may you have a blessed Christmas season.  I am so looking forward to being with our children and our precious grand daughter.  I couldn't ask for a better gift than to spend time with the ones I love!

A glimpse from last Christmas---my, how she's grown!

...and then there is Mimsy.  The tongue IS hers and no, it never goes in her mouth.  

...and this was Santa cruising down the street on Christmas eve.  

We watched from my daughter and son-in-law's front porch!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge # 195 Ribbons and/or Bows

ONCE UPON A STAR

This week's challenge at Sassy Cheryl's is to use ribbons and/or bows.  I went ultra simple this week---but I made a few.  I love this Santa-he's relatively new over at the Sassy Cheryl's Store.  I have a pack of these kraft paper cards and thought I'd use them!  I simply added ribbon-Christmas ribbon, and there you have it!

Then, I made a few more.  This one works for the challenge, too, and she's one of my all time favorites-a Sassy classic that is just too darn cute!

CUP OF COCOA

Now, these have nothing to do with this challenge, but I was on a roll and they are all Sassy Cheryl images, all for dear friends this Christmas season...

SANTA's WINKING STAR

ONCE UPON A STAR

I told you I liked this fellow!

WHOOPSIE

And, another classic-also among my most favorite!

See, they don't have to be fancy or fussy-don't get me wrong, I do love fancy and fussy.  there is a place for simple and sweet, too, especially when you're trying to make many cards!  I suppose I could have made this little card making marathon even more productive had I made several the same, but I'm easily bored...what can I say?!

Hoping you and yours are well and warm!  Winter has arrived.  We had our first snow-a confectioner's sugar dusting that I was told was mighty slippery earlier in the day.  The weather folks tell us some serious stuff is on it's way!  Hunker down and color!

Other challenges I plan to enter:

CAS on Sunday - 2W, 1E, CAS only - (2nd week) Challenge #23 Christmas

Creative Inspirations Paint - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Inspired by: MerryChristmas

Robyn`s Fetish - W -CHALLENGE # 189 - Must have a bow.

That Craft Place - 2W, 1E - (1st week) Christmas.

Totally Gorjuss - W  #213 Anything with Santa Goes

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #194 Anything Goes

Good morning, friends...I'm LATE posting my "Anything Goes" card for Sassy Cheryl's...a combination of my being out of practice, a slipping memory, and a little personal sadness.  BUT these little gals will lighten any bodies mood!  Now, I tried to link y'all up with the exact images at Sassy Cheryl's shop but my Internet is moving like molasses on a cold winter day!  I've used Charlie and Sally---these two are printed out oh, so much smaller than my preference-I like 'em BIG, but in order to have them work with these Memory Box dies...well, you've got the picture!  Because they are so small, the coloring tends to be a little lack luster-hard to do much shading on such tiny little images.

For your viewing pleasure (tee hee), I accompanied the card with two vintage Christmas elves I found while digging through years of ancient ornaments from my parent's attic.  I remember these little guys perched on a mantle when I was a child-so, yeah, way old!

Do join the Sassy gals this year and show us you Anything Goes creation---just be sure to use a Sassy Cheryl's image and have some fun!

Other challenges I plan to enter:

Crafty Cardmakers - 2W, C15 - (2nd week) Clean And Simple

Cutie Pie Challenge - 2W, must be "cute" - (2nd week) CUTE SCENES AND BACKGROUNDS

Paper Playtime - 2W, F - (2nd week) Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - W, E3, C10 - Christmas is coming

RIP sweet Abby-for nearly 18 years you warmed our hearts and our laps!

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge: #193 (TWO WEEKS!) Winter/Cold Weather

HANGING STARS SNOWMEN

WARM WINTER COCOA

Yup, it's coming-winter and the inevitable cold weather.  You wouldn't have guessed it today-it was in the high 60's here today.  Tomorrow, however, is a different story!

This week's Sassy Cheryl's Challenge (and next week's, too!) is a winter/cold weather card using a Sassy Cheryl's image.  So many of our friends are celebrating Thanksgiving next week-lots more cooking and perhaps a little less card making hence the two week window :-)

I used MME Merry Little Christmas mini paper pad, colored with Copics, cut out everybody, popped Maddie in front of the snowmen.  I tried a snow paint pen-disaster!  I've finally just thrown that pen away-i bought it last year and have never had any luck with it.  The snow is Flower Soft.

I hope you'll make room in the next two weeks to have a little fun...

You'll find some mighty cute images at Sassy Cheryl's store!

Other challenges I plan to enter:

C is for Challenge - 2W, Papercrafts only, E1 - (2nd week) Winter is Coming
Lady Anne's Challenge [Note new Blog Address] - M, E3, C10, papercrafts - (November) More than 1 Layer

Ardilla's Papers: Christmas and snow

Ardilla's Papers: Christmas and snow  So very cute!  I haven't seen this little gal in a while and I love her-what a great card!
Thank you for joining us this week for the Sassy Cheryl's Challenge.

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #192 Your Favorite Holiday Color

A FROSTY CUP OF COCOA

I've been MIA for the Sassy Cheryl's Challenges for a couple of weeks, but so happy to participate, again.  I have a back injury that is slow in healing-but it IS healing :-) 

This week's challenge is to use your favorite holiday color(s).  I decided to feature my favorite Christmas colors.  I am a traditional gal-love the red and green, but for this challenge, I put a contemporary spin on the red and green.

This darling snowman is colored with Copics, and then I did some fussy cutting.  The tree is Memory Box die.  The sentiment is a Marianne Designs die and stamp.  The snowman's scarf blows right off the page!

Do join us this week for the latest Sassy Cheryl's Challenge.  Remember to use a Sassy Cheryl's image.  You don't have to use Christmas colors-perhaps you have favorite Thanksgiving colors or you celebrate Chanukah...show us your colors!

Other challenges I plan to enter with this card:

Make it Monday - W, papercrafts only - always Anything Goes

MarkerPOP Challenge - 2W, 2E, C10, must use Copic or ShinHan markers - (2ndweek) Anything Goes with markers

The Paper Girls - 2W, layouts, cards - (2nd week) Cut it out! (Die- or Fussy-cutting

Tiddly Inks Challenge

Sooo...I've been down and out with a seriously bad back for days, many, many days.  I've made progress-slow progress.  Just when I thought I was on my way, my little dog let out a piercing shriek announcing the arrival of my husband.  I had been sound asleep.  You know how you jump awake when your startled-yeah, that happened. A scream followed, a blood curdling, too loud scream as the pain shot through and through.  Needless to say, I lost ground in the recovery process.

Well, today I decided  that though I'm uncomfortable, and I move like I'm well into my 100th year, I needed to do some moving.  Realizing that given my back issues this might be my new normal (oh, how I hope NOT), I'd better put on my big girl panties and just do it.  Nothing taxing, mind you-purely pleasure!  I went to my studio (aka the cats' apartment) and with one cat in my lap and another at my feet, I colored away.  The cards may not be inspired-I prefer to call them clean and simple which honestly is my style anyway-these are just a little simpler than usual.

These are TiddlyInk images.  I vowed not to get hooked on another digi artist.  My computer is stuffed full with an impressive number of digis-clearly, I have a problem, but been down and out for so many days, I did a little blog hopping-seemed harmless enough!  Hah!  I'm on a design team with the very talented Angie.  She's a guest designer for Tiddly Inks this week-this is her fault!  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!  These little girls were just too cute.  Apparently, they needed me as much as I needed them because they hopped right into my cart.

I've already written notes to two friends, one in need of cheering and the other to whom I owe thanks.  They'll be in the mail by Tuesday :-)

Gifts...Enough and more than enough

After some busy, fun filled weeks, I am now down for the count.  Foolishly, I decided to try and unroll a 12x 20 (?- BIG) rug in a furniture filled room by myself; my 59 year old, tall, slender, spine curvature, prone to back strain, self.  My darling husband came home as I as trying to use a car jack to raise the bed (innovative, don't you think?). He finished the job-rug finally in place-color me happy.

Alas, on Wed., my back HURT with each and every movement, but I had theatre tickets, expensive ones, and I was determined to go, enjoy lunch with friends and see this oh, so funny production.  The bus ride is about an hour and a half each way-ill advised for anyone plagued with back pain.  The day was wonderful, but the next day...  The next day, I could not move-no, really, could NOT move.  The slightest twitch sent electric shock pains through my body.

It's been exactly a week since the great rug unrolling debacle.  I've spent the better part of each day either in a recliner or my bed.  Lord, knows recliners are hulking, ugly pieces of furniture, but I have come to know the inner beauty of a Lazy Boy recliner!  Gratefully, our bed has a head and foot raising option-hence the need of a carjack to lift it when placing a rug beneath it.  I have made great use of this function.  It has enabled some independence in getting out of bed.

Yesterday, I went to the doctor.  He prescribed a muscle relaxer and pain killers, only to be taken at night and affirmed that I needed to lay low, use heat.  Today, after a wonderful, restorative sleep, I was able to get out of the bed without sound effects!  Of late, I've sounded like I'm giving birth at the moment I rise.  Within minutes, I was strongly reminded that, though I've made progress, I have a long way to go...sigh.

This has been a journey, a time of forced rest, relaxation, reflection, and regrouping.  The timing of this event was almost providential.  At the suggestion of a dear friend, with whom I share a number of strongly held beliefs, I had just finished reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  This book and it's message touched me deeply.  I had committed to the idea of looking for and documenting gifts.  I've done this on and off for years.  My list has always been topped with my family and friends- the undeniably greatest earthly sources of my joy ( and, who are we kidding, heartache!).  I do thank God each and everyday for these, His most valuable gifts to me, but there are so many, many more- the gifts I take for granted, the gifts I don't even notice because I'm just "too busy" with the stuff of life.

So, now, I'm not so busy.  It's really easy for me to get down, and when I'm hurting and frustrated, well, I can get downright miserable, but I was determined to use this healing time more wisely.  I miss the daily activities I sometimes dread, but when I can't do them, I certainly appreciate the ability to do them.  

Crafting, creating gives me joy.  I love the process, and I love sharing this with others, but, for now, I cannot engage, so my blog sits in cyber space- that's fine, really.  Few visit here unless they're required to to enter a blog hop- I get it. Life's crazy busy, and we are all on sensory overload and so, so many of us are putting out our thoughts, ideas, and creations.  While Brene Brown speaks of our culture of scarcity(my new mantra thanks to Brene-Enough, and more than enough)- never enough ( yeah, I love her writing, too), there really are enough, more than enough, of us sharing in the blog-a-sphere.  I'm not writing this for anyone other than me, really- but publishing makes me vulnerable, and if I touch even one person's heart, then it serves a purpose.

I am still.  I notice the warmth of the sunshine, how the sunlight streams into the room, bounces of the glass table top.  I look out the window and see the leaves- bright oranges, yellows, and reds, a celebration as they joyfully let go for their upcoming winter slumber.  My little dogs recognize that something isn't right-they don't leave my side.  I am comforted by their warm little bodies pressed next to mine, the rhythm of their steady breath.  As word leaks out into our little town, a few phone calls, some sweet emails, a meal...

The daily miracles-answered prayers both big and small.  Daily meditations-gratitude-leave it to Oprah!

And, my family, my wonderful, sometimes dis-functional family... I notice my husband's kindness in ways I often overlook, his compassion, caring-a gentle, loving giant.  He supports me in so many ways.  My children call and text- words of love and caring, commitment and concern for me, for one another.  I am so proud of them, so grateful for them.  My new son, my son-in-law, called just to tell me he loves me, us, his new family.  What a wonderful young man!  My granddaughter, just a baby, doesn't even know how much I love her- perhaps will not be able to even wrap her mind and heart around it until she one day becomes a grandmother.

I am healing, and soon, my world will expand, again-a gift!  While this has been a painful interlude, and I do NOT wish to repeat it,  it has been a meaningful time...a gift.

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge: #189 Get Your Spook On!

The Good Little Witch

This week at Sassy Cheryl's, Get Your Spook On!  Halloween is coming.  Now, honestly, Sally is anything but spooky or scary-she's just so stinkin' cute so I gave her a little spooky Trick or Treat bag!

I colored her with Copics.  I made the little bag using my Quickutz.  I love the little candy corn brads-not as much as the real deal, but still, they are mighty cute!

Come on, now...join the Sassy Cheryl's team this week and get your spook on!  

Be sure to use a Sassy image!

Other challenges I plan to enter:

Artistic Inspirations - W, E3 - Anything Goes

C is for Challenge - 2W, Papercrafts only, E1 - (2nd week) Halloween

Crafty Boots - 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Halloween

Creative Creations Challenge Blog - 2W, E3, C10 - (2nd week) Halloween

MarkerPOP Challenge - 2W, 2E, C10, must use Copic or ShinHan markers - (2ndweek) Halloween

Sassy Cheryl's Challenge "Punches and/or Dies"

SNOW MUCH JOY!

This week's challenge at Sassy Cheryl's is to use those punches and/or dies...come on now, you know you have them!  I love them, but sometimes I'm just too stinking lazy to use them-sad, sad, SAD!  This week, I may have gone overboard!  I used four different dies on this card.  

First, however, I hope you'll take a good look at this fabulous snowman.  What a perfect name for this happy guy juggling the word "joy".  He's one of Sassy Cheryl's newest creations.  She's getting us ready for the Christmas/winter season with bunches of mighty cute images!  I colored this little fellow with Copics-I honestly don't know why I bother to mention this little fact any more because if you've visited here more than once, you know that's my medium of choice!  I hope to brush up on my pencil skills this week.  Don't hold your breath, though.  I LOVE my Copics!  After I colored him, I cut him out-it's therapy!  He needed a little sparkle and shine to go with his personality and his snow encrusted body, so I got out the Stickles

And, then, the card and those dies---too much?!  The bottom is a new one by Marianne Designs.  I am very fond of this one-in fact, I have an extensive M.D. die wish list...sigh!  The snow flake and the tree are by either Memory Box or Poppy---sorry I'm not sure which.  For the longest time, I assumed they were one company as they appeared around the same time and their dies are so similar.  The banner and it's stamp are also Marianne designs.  After all was said and done, I didn't like the tree and wanted to peel it off-ah, no...not without destroying the base!

If you hopped with us last week, be sure to see if you are the lucky winner.  Regardless of what you did last week, this week is a brand new opportunity to show US what you can do with a Sassy Cheryl's image and your dies/punches!  You cannot win if you do not enter!

Other challenges I plan to enter:

Crafting When We Can - 2W, 2E, C5 - Challenge #55 (1st week) Make it Sparkle.

One Stitch At A Time - W, SIO -Challenge #185 Winter Wonderland.

Robyn`s Fetish - W -CHALLENGE # 181-Square Cards Only

Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday

...and, it's Monday.  As you know, Sassy Cheryl asks to see what we're working on and she shows us what she's working on.  For more Thursdays than I care to count, I've been working on a fund raiser event for an organization called St. Martin's.  A friend of mine "invited" me to serve on The Arts Committee, one of two fund raisers for St. Martin's.  It was easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm and dedication of the other members.  I jumped in with both feet.

I really had NO IDEA...

Now, I am not one who is comfortable approaching folks for money-that's just not in my skill set, but give me paper and I'm good.  Boy, did I use lots of paper!  One of the members of the group came up with the theme.  She is a creative genius-you'll see what I mean...

Another woman developed a fabulous interactive web site prior to the event.  What a job!

Many of the ladies pounded the pavement seeking donations, made lots of phone calls, knocked on doors...

I started early writing descriptions of the donated items-oh, the editing.  I have determined I am mildly (maybe not so mildly!) dyslexic which does not serve me well!  Scrambling letters is my specialty!  You know those "tests" that give you a few letters at the beginning and end of a word and then put numbers in the center?  They are not a challenge for me.  So, while I like to write...

I worked on the center pieces.  Thank goodness for my Cameo.  It got a serious work out.  I made the menus and cut little easels for all the menus using Marianne Designs die cuts.  The committee wanted special name tags-check.  I made the posters for the featured "live auction" items and individual cards for each of the silent auction items, all embellished with circus tents---LOTS of paper!

Set up took us over two days with all hands on deck.  We transformed an empty hall at the fire house. The event was spectacular!  Local artists donated incredibly beautiful paintings, pottery, jewelry, wood working, photography, quilting...  Local businesses donated services and goods.  Individuals auctioned off boating and flight adventures, house tours, cocktail parties, and vacation accommodations. 

After dinner, during dessert, the local volunteer Marching Band made a surprise entrance - well, some of us knew, but it was a well kept secret.  Let me say, that was quite feat in this little community!

See that tent?  That was Louann's brain child.  Masterful!  She ordered rolls of sheet plastic, the kind you might use to cover tables at a picnic.  She had detailed plans and sketches.  The telescoping pole-amazing! Last Wed. was the day of truth-would it work?  There was no way of testing it before hand.  Needless to say, it WORKED!  I was in awe of this creation.  

I did not take any pictures the night of the event, but trust me, it was wonderful.  

The lights were up during the cocktail party and silent auction and then dimmed just enough for dinner creating dining ambiance.

Here's the committee.  I'm the tall lady in the back, third one from the left with the not really natural blonde hair-ha!  Every circus needs a clown-Julie was "Vanna White-face" for the event!

After an amazing evening, months of prep, weeks of work, and days of set up, we broke it down in about an hour---sigh...  Whatever will we do next year?!  I don't know about the other ladies, but I felt like someone had let all the air out of me, the next day.

So, there you have it-that's what I've been working on!  Whoo hoo-success!

Sassy Cheryl's Ho,Ho,Hop!

Ho ho ho! Are you ready for the winter holidays? If not, you will be soon! That's right...it's time for
Sassy Cheryl's WINTER HOLIDAYS Digi Release & 
BLOG HOP!!

Today's Blog Hop Order:
Judy
Dawn
Angie
Joann (Sassy Raggedy)
Ann
Jasmina
Cathy
Kecia
Jackie
Nela
Linda
Pat
If you've arrived here from Joann (Sassy Raggedy) ;
then you are definitely in the right place!! Allow me to introduce . . .

"CHARLIE BROWN'S TREE MAX" . . .

I colored Max with Copics and used the blender/wash cloth technique to give his sweater a knitted look.  My DP is Vintage Christmas by MME.  I made the easel, too using the same DP and a Maianne's Designs die cut.

Today's six brand new, never been seen, Sassy Cheryl "Winter" Blog Hop digi images are available HERE at Sassy Cheryl's Online Store!

* * * PRIZES * * *  

Be sure you leave comments along the way...AND on Sassy Cheryl's Challenge Blog HERE at the end of the hop...because several lucky blog hoppers (selected at random from the comments) will receive some fabulous Sassy Cheryl prizes!

Now . . . your next stop along the way is Jasmina!

Thanks so much for "hopping" by! Have fun with the rest of today's Winter Holidays Blog Hop . . . and, of course, have fun shopping at Sassy Cheryl's!!

Oh, and GREAT news-the new release images are on SALE-better hurry, though---this is a limited offer!

Other challenges I plan to enter:
C is for Challenge - 2W, Papercrafts only, E1 - (2nd week) Boys & Men
Make it Monday - W - always Anything Goes
MarkerPOP Challenge - 2W, 2E, C10, must use Markers - (1st week) Anything Goes with Copic or ShinHan markers

Sassy Cheryl's #186 Anything Goes!

WHOOPSIE!

This week's challenge at Sassy Cheryl's is an ANYTHING GOES with a Sassy Cheryl's image!  I have to admit, I do love an "Anything" challenge from time to time :-)  I had Christmas paper out so decided to stick with that.  I went with an "oldie goldie" image, a real favorite of mine.  This makes me think of the song, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus..."  I had a little fun with die cuts, too.  I recently got a couple of Marianne Designs die cuts-oh, my how I love these!  

One of my teammate uses the Cameo Silhouette to cut out her images and then to mat them.  I love the look!  Now, I do have this fabulous machine, and I do use it, though not to its full advantage, but I do not know how to cut around an image.  I just haven't the time to sit and figure this out lately so I simply cut out the image, glued it to black card stock and cut around it.  And, then, I decided that a black border would make this sentiment pop as well!

I hope you'll join us this week for the Anything Goes challenge-a great opportunity to make any kind of card you may need AND enter it in the challenge for an opportunity to win two Sassy images!!!

In other news...a BIG announcement!!!  Next week...

Pretty exciting stuff, right?!

Other challenges I plan to enter with this card:

Craft It Up & Link It Up Linky Party by Craftin Desert Divas - 2W - (1st week) Anything with a Sentiment

Make it Monday - W - always Anything Goes

Christmas Card Challenges - W, 1E, Unlimited entries/challenges. Winners are drawn M and announced in the next new challenge. Must be Christmas/Winter - Challenge #44 Anything Goes.

Sassy Cheryl's #185 School Days

BACK PACK MADDIE

ACK!  I'm late-just by a few hours, but I HATE to be late!  This week's challenge at Sassy Cheryl's is School Days.  Check out the new school days images at Sassy Cheryl's.  And, of  course, there are the tried and trued school days images, too!  Just use a Sassy Cheryl's image and let your creativity have a field day!

LATE...

Soon after my kids and I moved to the Eastern Shore, oh, so many years ago, the alarm did NOT go off.  5 kids to get up and dressed and out and deposited at three different schools!  We scrambled around, packed in the car, and headed to the middle school first.  Filled with shame and not wanting my kids to suffer consequences for something that was out of their control, I trudged into the office, 5 kids in tow to explain that the power had gone out in the night, our alarms didn't go off, and we all over slept.  The secretary looked at my quizzically...

"You're early, not late.  We had a fog delay."

"A what?  There is no fog."

"Well, there was early this morning.  We have a two hour delay."

Who ever heard of a fog delay?! Well, it seems before the children and I moved here, there had been a bus accident-one the shore will never forget.  The school bus was traveling across the highway when they were struck by a tractor trailer who hadn't seen the bus due to the dense fog...a terrible tragedy.

Most days, I don't set the alarm.  I no longer have to listen to the radio/tv to check for fog delays or snow delays.  No more lessons to plan, papers to grade, kids to wake up, little ones to dress, busses to catch...those were hectic years for sure and Lord, how I miss them!  

If you or yours mark this time of year with new beginnings, I hope you're off to a great start!  Celebrate the start of a new school year by giving or sending your special someone a card---this one goes to my great niece---a new second grader, along with an altered composition book!

Other challenges I plan to enter:

Created With Love Challenges - W, 3E - Fall Colors

Digi Makeover Challenge - W, SIO, must use digi - Anything Goes

House of Gilli - M, SIO - (deadline Oct 15?) Anything Goes/Fall

Make it Monday - W - always Anything Goes