Home again!

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?

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!

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

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???!!!

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!

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!

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

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

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....

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