Bon Voyage!

Hey Howdy Hey...  It's been so long since I've made a post.  I can hardly believe it's already February.

We had a busy few months - celebrating lots of birthdays, two of them this month.   My sweet baby Owen turned two.  And my beautiful girl (not-so-much a baby, but always a baby in my heart) Kelly, who turned fifteen this year.  My other son Joey will celebrate a birthday in April.  They sure do keep us busy.  I guess they're part of the reasons why I haven't posted for so long.

I have two friends who are lucky enough to be travelling South next week.  So instead of turning green with envy - which of course I am - I decided to be inspired and create some happy-send-off cards for each.  Hope you like them.

First is one of my favourite artist - Canadian, Rachelle Anne Miller.  I simply love her images.  They are too darn cute.  Here's a closer look at this cutie:

Next I used a CC Design stamp that is also super cute.  This was also one of the first images that turned me on to stamping and Copics.

The wave punch makes me smile, it looks so summery with the blue paper.  All paper and ribbon for both these cards are from my wonderful stash.  Oh and I coloured both with my Copics.

A special thanks to my husband for watching the baby while I took time to play tonight!

Good night & thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Dexter and Christmas... Mostly Dexter

10 days till Christmas. Yikes!!!!... I need to get cracking on so many levels.

I haven't blogged in so long... My last entry was nearly a month ago. I've been busy with so many other things. Sadly I've not sat in my little scrappy corner to craft, but I will soon. 

I have made a couple of new Christmas cards, I'll post those pictures later.

Mostly I have to write about Dexter. *Michael C Hall, I love your creepy goodness.*

I am still devastated by the season ending on Dexter. MIND BLOWING ending. I didn't see it coming (and I consider myself a good predicter of endings.) I was duped, which I love. One side of me enjoys the shock. But the other side of me is a little disappointed.

I think the writers could have built up the story to let us anticipate (in “sitting on the edge of your seat” fear) what was to come. Spoiler Alert... Trinity - Arthur Miller - kills Rita. GASP!.... I liked the shock factor but perhaps it would have been more suspenseful if we knew that Rita had returned. Perhaps the most disturbing part – in my opinion – the part that I couldn't get out of my head for two days – was to see little Harrison sitting in a puddle of his mommy's blood, right next to the tub where she lay murdered.

Honestly, I suspected Rita would be killed off this season. Although I thought it would have happened earlier in the story so that Dexter could kill Trinity with anger and revenge. I didn't even like Rita very much. I used to like her, but this season she nagged Dexter too much.

I like when a story gets all tied together in the end. Like the way that one action would have a trickle effect of clarity on other things. YKWIM? The shock factor was there for Rita's death, but I almost feel a little cheated that it wasn’t part of the story that we were following – not really. I watched the ending again to listen more closely to what Trinity said to Dexter. I wanted to hear if there were any clues. The only thing that he said was "it's already over...," which - even knowing the ending - doesn't give me a clue. The thing that I did enjoy watching for the second time was Dexter's reaction to what Arthur said. The look of puzzlement on his face was really good, it’s like he suspected something was off… But didn’t know what. It was subtle though... Very subtle, cause seconds later when Dexter says "now it's over" (as he slams the hammer down to kill Arthur) it ties that little piece together – until the end of course.

Anywho... I'm not a TV writer (but I’m sure I’d be excellent! - LOL) I still love the show, despite my reluctance with the ending. I still love Dexter. I think the story line and the actors are phenomenal. It’s still my favourite show. I still plan to re-watch the entire season from the beginning. Deborah (Jennifer Carpenter) is still my idol (although Jen, eat a cookie girl! You give new meaning to skinny.)

It's funny to think how many of us devoted Dexter watchers are cheering for the killer (but he's a good killer...) I'm really looking forward to next season in September 2010. Yikes!!! Man, how will I endure the winter... The spring... The summer... ??? I guess Nurse Jackie will have to fill the void. : )

Donna

Happy Birthday Mom

It's my Mom's birthday tomorrow.  We're celebrating today, since most of us are around today.  Of course, I had to make some cards for the special occassion.  I'll share them and briefly explain my steps.  Here's the first:

I'm calling it my "Gift Card"...  Get it???  Cause it's a GIFT shaped card.  Te he he.  I used my Cricut with the Pooh and Friends cartridge.  It's a cute present that I turned into a card by cutting a back a little smaller and scoring a 1.5" flap to attach.  This is not my original idea.  I saw a version on the Bitten by the Bug blog challenge.

The second card I used a CC Design stamp.  The paper was from my scrap pile, but I remember it's My Mind's Eye, cause I love this paper.  I added some flowers and Stickles for flare.

 

The final card is also a Cricut cut card from the Pooh & Friends cartridge. I know that my son will love giving this to his Gramma. I've put his hand print on the inside along with a cute "Happy Birthday" cut.

That's it for now. I just want to say that I have the best mom. She is so nurturing to my children (and to her own kids too!) She's loving and giving and she never wants anything for herself. I aspire to be as great a mom and person as she is. I love you Mom.

Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Looks Like a Wedding Card?

Hi everyone and happy Thursday morning!

My card today is for a friend and coworker.  She's leaving our office for a full time position in another city.  I'm going to miss her fun-loving sense of humour around here (that girl really makes me laugh!), but this move is best for her, so I'm very happy for her.

I'm using the card for the Mojo Monday Challenge Week #112.  Once again, I took the layout very literally and copied it - almost - verbatim.  : )   I like black & white cards; they have such a crisp and clean look.  My only problem here is that it looks a little wedding-like to me. 

The supplies for this card were from my stash.  Here's what I know - one of the sentiments is from SU.  I used the Cuttlebug to emboss.  I sprayed a little Glimmer Mist on one of the sentiments.  I added a glitter brad and some ribbon - and voilà.

Have a great day - thanks for checking me out.  ; )

Donna

REMEMBRANCE DAY - NOVEMBER 11

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing , fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from falling hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders field

A Four-Challenge Card

Good morning,

My post today is for four challenges.  I'm excited to use my new Oliver stamp that I won at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp Challenge #4 *thanks Kimmie*.  I had fun combining challenges for this card, starting with the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp Challenge #5 - Stitch It Up.  I gotta say, the stitching on this one was anything but smooth.   Not sure if it was my machine or my technique, but it sure was trying.  Got it finally on my third attempt.  Anywho...  The second challenge is for Crazy 4 Challenges Week 10 - Easel Card.  You should check out the really cute cards from their DT - such great ideas.  The third challenge that I followed was the Friday Sketchers 77.   I love this little snowflake sketch.  The last challenge that I manage to play was for the Cupcake Craft Challenge #65 - Snow Much Fun.

The paper is from Close To My Heart.  I added the sewing and some ribbon, from my trusty ribbon drawer.  I cut out Oliver, popped him up and added some Stickles to his hat and glaze to his cup.  I sprayed the large snowflake and sentiment with Glimmer Mist.  I believe the sentiment is from CC Designs (?)  Oh... And I paper pieced part of Oliver's hat to match the paper.

Here's a look from a different angle.  Hope you like it.  Yay...  My first Christmas card, only 29 more to go!

Have a great day and stay healthy.

Donna

Mojo Monday & Birthday

Good Wednesday morning everyone,

Here's my card for the Mojo Monday 111 Contest.  I had to make a birthday card so I combined my efforts - two birds, one stone.

I bought this cute little Greeting Farm ball player from Scrappin Great Deals.  These stamps are so adorable with their oversized heads.  My son loves baseball (he has a normal size head - LOL.)  It was easy and fun to colour up the large surface areas.  It was also easy to cut him out and pop him up.  The paper and embellishments were from my stash - don't remember those details.

Here's a closer view of Batter Ian.  There wasn't too much fuss with this card.  I kept it simple (I fought the urges to glitter it up!)  I did give the star a coating of glaze, which can be seen in the closer view.  I hope my brother likes it.  It's a little boyish for a grown man, but I know he'll get a kick out of it - and he used to be an awesome ball player, so it fits...  Did I say "used to??"  I meant that he still is awesome!!

Have a great day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Donna