Awash With Flowers!

I bought the stamp set "Awash With Flowers" - a 2 step stamping set quite some time ago and it has set on the shelf until Sunday when I pulled it out and played with it. 

I used the two tags die to make the little "flap" on the top and also crystal effects on the flowers.  I like how the flowers are glossy and shiny on the cards.

The second one, I am sending to a friend who is having back problems.  Hope it brightens her day!  The inside is simple and after I took a picture of it, I added another flower inside and a "Get Well Soon" sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Gail

Happy Birthday John!!

Today is my oldest son's birthday!!  Happy Birthday, John!!!

John is the one on the right.

Have a great day, everyone!  Gail

Computer Troubles :(

Oh my goodness!  I have been having a HORRIBLE time tonight trying to load pictures!  I have had to uninstall my picture mover and re-install it.  I am not a computer smartie and am exhausted :)

I have two cards that I made over the weekend using the Awash With Flowers Stampin' UP! set and they turned out so cute!!!  I will post them Wednesday morning so stay tuned....

With Love & Caring

I tried my hand a vintage grundge (hehe) 

I used the SU! smooch spritz on crumb cake and very vanilla cardstock.  If you use this product just a warning: it can get very messy and I would suggest you wear gloves or plan on hands getting stained! 
I then inked, distressed, tore, stamped and crumpled!!  I added an antique brad and black ribbon and called it done :)

I really love the old, vintage antique look of cards but I need more practice!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a good weekend.  Tomorrow I am off to the State Fair - Yeah! I have never been to the state fair!!

Gail

Hello From Nebraska!

I purchased this stamp oh goodness, probably 10 years ago and don't use it much but I am proud to be from Nebraska and like to show it off every once in awhile :)

I am orginally from Southern California but I have lived in Nebraska more years so "My blood runs Nebraska red".   We have been hit lately with some very HOT weather and hope it cools off soon.  Friday, my husband and I are going to the Nebraska State Fair so I am really hoping that it cools off.  I have never been to the state fair so I am looking forward to going.  When I lived in California, my mom and dad took us kids to the Orange County Fair and I remember a HUGE Porky Pig sign greeted you at the entrance.  I used to be in a dance group and we would perform there each year. 

I have a hard time coloring my images but I try my best.  Most of the time I try to choose stamps and layouts that don't really require alot of coloring.

There aren't many red barns on the farms anymore.  Most farms now have big steel buildings but there are some beautiful, old red barns still out there.

I used a real red, a scrap of red checked, kraft and whisper white cardstock.  I had a flower that I purchased a looooong time ago from HL and added a cute button to the center.
I thought my card needed just a little more "punch" so I added some red checked ribbon and a little "hello" tag attached.  I also drew some stitching around the edge of the kraft cardstock.

I think it turned out cute and will put it in my stash of go to cards when I need something quick.

Thanks for stopping by today - hope your week is going well.

Gail

***Oh I have to add that my youngest son had a Birthday on Monday!!  He is away at college so we went down and visited him on Sunday.  Happy Birthday, Jeff ***

I'M IN A MEETING.....

Isn't this the cutest card!

I received this from my friend and fellow blogger Pam at Stamping with Seredipity!
Check out her blog - she has some fantastic card ideas. 

Pam and I met through blogging and we have met "in person" once.  Wish we lived closer we have alot in common.

When I recieved this card - it made me smile.  Sometimes don't you just wish you could get away from it all and relax like that??

Thanks for stopping by - Gail 

I'm In The Mood - To Craft!!

Hello Bloggers!  I got to spend some time in my craft room the past weekend - Yeah! 

With this card I used some SU! retired DSP paper that I have been hoarding because it is so pretty.  Finally decided I had better get to using it.  This is a pocket card so the white and green insert pulls out so I will be able to write a note to someone.

This card I used the Strength and Hope stamp set, Whisper White, Sahara Sand card stock and SU! ribbon.

I will have more cards to share in a day or two so stay tuned :)

Gail

Fair Time in Nebraska!

It is always fun to go to the county fair!  Lots of people, excited little kids, candy and S-U-N!!  It was pretty hot during the parade that kicked off the fair and one float even handed out bottles of cold water to the crowd!  A welcome treat!

I don't know who this little girl is but she was with her Daddy and she was so excited for the parade to begin!  She was clapping her hands when she heard the band!  She is so cute!! Notice her ice cream bucket on the ground to hold her candy!

The Legion carrying the flag, the High School band and the Freedom Riders started the parade then the floats,

and the horses,

and the candy

Even the moms and dads helped pick up the candy!  The parade lasted an hour and 20 minutes.  They said it was the biggest one yet.  The kids really liked the big fire engines when they blew the sirens and shot water from the hoses.  There was even a Thomas the Train (really cute).

Our small community of Sargent enters a booth every year and this year we had enough items entered to fill both sides of part of the exhibit hall!

Canned goods, home grown veggies, quilts, scrapbooks, cards (!), woodworking, needlework, just about any craft you can think of was featured!

Our town of about 600 people earned $1,600.00 in premium money that will go back into our community towards worthwhile projects!  Great job Sargent!!!

Thanks for visiting - Gail

Finally....A Card!

This is a quick card I made just the other day when I had a few minutes to relax and "craft".

All materials are Stampin' Up! except the ribbon.  Quick, easy but I think it is pretty. It is nice to have a few cards on hand so you can have them when you need them!

I used Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla card stock.

Next is a picture of the beautiful mirror I bought while in Denver.  I finally got some pictures taken of it!

See the beautiful detail at the top and around the edges?

I just love it! I saw a mirror like this at a Bed and Breakfast quite awhile back and always thought I would love to have one like it.  Never thought I would ever find one similar to it!  I love to look for antiques and kind of lean towards antique furniture!! 

Also, what do you think of my berry colored wall??  I painted that about 10 years ago in my living room.  Just one of the three walls that are in there the other are painted with a color called Khaki. When I first started painting that wall my husband thought I was nuts but now we get so many compliments about it!

Thanks for stopping by!  I will have some fair pictures to show next time :) Until then ... have a great weekend!

Gail

Chokecherry Jelly & Syrup - Yummy!!!

Sorry folks, I haven't had ANY time lately to make cards but I have been busy!  No couch potato here!! 

My husband, John and I went Chokecherry picking this past weekend and for the next couple of days, after work, I have been busy "putting up" (or canning) chokecherries!  Chokecherries grow wild here in Nebraska and we even have a Chokecherry Festival in Sargent every year - chokecherry pit spitting contest and all!!
Here is a picture of the chokecherry bush.

The bushes grow wild in the ditches and some years are better than others as far as how much fruit is on the bushes.



This is a photo of the cherries, after we picked them - they are about the size of a pea and they have a hard pit inside.  At this stage they are very bitter if you bite into one!

The next thing you have to do is extract the juice.  You boil the cherries and then run them through a sieve it separates the pit and skin from the juice.  This takes some muscle!!

After you extract the juice you are ready to start cooking!!

I made chokecherry jelly and syrup to keep and give as gifts at Christmas.  It is delicious!

Oops!  This picture isn't very clear but you can see how many jars I got!  My family was disappointed though, every jar sealed so there weren't any rejects to taste!!  We may have to open some soon :)  You can also make chokecherry pie, chokecherry cobbler, chokecherry kolaches all kinds of creations!

While we were picking chokecherries, my husband surprised me with these:

Have a great day!!

Gail