Frugal Friday

Do you like to run?  Who would have thought that trying to get into shape could be so costly?  A gym membership, the entry fees for getting into 5K races - now don't get me wrong, if it is a charity 5K,then we're good :o)  But I've got a little hint for you!  There is a FREE app for the iphone/ipod/idevice called Virtual Road Race.  What is Virtual Road Race you might be wondering?  Well, every Saturday there is a "race" and you can run from anywhere, it records your time, distance, and the place you finish in the race, then you log onto the website afterward to see how you did!  Easy Peasy - that's Frugal Friday!
My little card today is full of bright colors for sweet summer time!  I had a blast playing along with challenges from The Southern Girls (#21 Anything Goes), Digi Doodle Shops Best (Stitching - even though mines addmitidly faux), and the awesome sketch is from MOJO Monday (#195).

 (Paper: PaperTreyInk; October Afternoon - Fly a Kite; Ink: PaperTreyInk; Image: PaperTreyInk - Fruitful; Sentiment: PaperTreyInk - Signature Greetings; Misc: trim, scallop punches, PTI inks, buttons, Jolee's bling)

Have a wonderful weekend!

God Bless You,

Relay Friday

Ahh, it is Relay Friday for our Relay for Life team!  I hope everyone is as excited as I am!  The Cake Pops are done, quilt finished, survivor gifts completed, etc...  I just hope I manage to remember to take everything with me!
On the crafty side of things today, I have a couple of cards to share!
First up is the sketch on the Stampendous Blog this week:

 (Paper: PaperTreyInk, October Afternoon - Fly a Kite; Ink: Momento, Copics; Stamp: Stampendous; Misc: Jolee's Bling)

Next is the CPS sketch for this week!  Christian Paper Crafts is the sponser over there, and I really encourage you to check out both places!

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, October Afternoon - Fly a Kite; Stamps: PaperTreyInk; Ink: PaperTreyInk; Misc: ribbon)

Have a great weekend!

God Bless You,

Friendly Thursday

Good morning everyone and welcome to Thursday!  Now if you're liek me, Thursday has took its sweet time coming, but tomorrow is Friday :o)

Today is Bible Verse Thursday over at Christian Paper Crafts and I am so tickled to get to play along!    The wonderful sketch is from the CPS blog.  Check my little feller out here:

(Paper: PaperTreyInk; Image: Unity; Ink: Momento; Accessories: ribbon, Misc: edge distressing tool, cuttlebug swiss dots folder)

Have a wonderful day my lovelies!

God Bless You,

Oh Baby Baby...

And before you get any wild ideas - no, we're not having another baby!  It's the wonderful new Baby digis from Deedee's Digis that has me saying that!  You see, I have always dreaded making baby shower cards.  To be honest, I usually *faints* buy them from the store... <---that is how bad I really dislike it!  But with these stamps - I actually made 3...in one night....SUPER easy...no pain to it!
First off, my kind of baby!  Kraft, the vintage feel of Basic Grey paper, some distress ink, an edge distresser, and a homemade flower (Christian Paper Crafts Bible Verse Thursday Challenge)...  Meet Ms. Shabby Chic!

(Paper: PaperTreyInk,BasicGrey; Image:Deedee's Digi;, Ink: Copics, Distress Ink - Tea Stain; Accessories: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Lace, homemade flower, pearl)

Followed by this little number where I placed an image from Deedee's Cuties for a Cure on the onesie!  They are all inchies in that set so it works out perfectly:

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, Basic Grey; Image: Deedee's Digis; Accessories: Jute; Ink: Copics, Distress Ink - Tea Stain)

And last but not least, for all the momma's of boys out there, this little card is made using the same concept as the previous girly card.  Meet little dude:

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, Basic Grey; Ink: Copics, Distress Ink - Tea Stain; Accessories: Jute, cuttlebug; Image: Deedee's Digis)

*All card layouts were inpired by the sketch at CPS this week!

Thank you for stopping by today!

God Bless You,

Monday of Color!

Wow!  You know it really is a Color Monday when the challenge at Christian Paper Crafts AND Crafting with Deedee's Digis are colors...and opposite colors at that LOL!
First up - here is what I came up with for Deedee's Digis:

(Paper:PaperTreyInk; Image: Deedee's Digis; Accessories: Copics, Cuttlebug)

Now, notice the same sketch from Card Positioning Systems, but I changed it up and added the Christian Paper Crafts Colors and a different image!

(Paper: PaperTreyInk; Image: PaperTreyInk; Accessories: Cuttelbug, Jute, Copics)

I hope that beginning of your week is wonderful!

God Bless You,

...Sparkles...

Everything on my projects sparkle today... 
When I saw the current sketch for Card Positioning Systems, rather than a card, a scrapbook page was the first thing to come to my mind.  Today's Scripture Saturday over at Christian Paper Crafts is Psalms 19:1.  Although I knew the picture I wanted to use for my page, I was unsure on the layout until I found that one!!  I also had to combine it with the Fussy and Fancy Challenge of Scallops, Stitches, and Sparkle!  Such a fun way to remember such a fun vacation!
Here is my page:

(Paper: BoBunny, Accessories: Prima Flower, Lace, Button, Pin, Cork, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist)

Since the CPS and Fussy and Fancy challenges are really geared toward card making, I decided to make a card using these "guidelines" along with one of my favorite Deedee's Digis (and yes, it is "upside down", but I just love it that way for some reason):

(Paper: PaperTrey Ink, BoBunny; Image: Deedee's Digis, Accessories: Copics, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Lace)

Have a wonderful Saturday!

God Bless You,

DollyWood Bound! :o)

My little love is all about a DollyWood trip and I am more than excited to always be taking her!  One of my fondest memories of childhood is that my grandparents constantly took me to DollyWood and made it such a special place for me that I am so honored and blessed to be able to share it with her!
Scripture Saturday over at Christian Paper Crafts today is all about a verse with some healing in it!  Luke 28:8 - I just love how she is told that she is healed and to go in peace!  That just sends happiness head to toe in me!

*note: this looked a *whole* lot better in real life...I used a Copic Spica pen to write the verse with - if you have not tried them, they are totally addictive - best glitter pen ever*

I couldn't decide what to make, but went for an ATC for the office again!  It seems the workplace is a great place to add subtle hints of Scripture!!

Have a great Saturday!  I sure pray we do!

God Bless You,

May I Have Your Attention Please....

I have an announcement! (I actually did this Friday night for my Relay Team and have been waiting until this morning to announce it to the rest of the world!)

I have been accepted into graduate school!!!! Thank GOD!!

This news has totally sent me over the moon! My mood is totally in the mode of nice bright colors, much like the ones on the color challenge at Christian Paper Crafts for Color Monday today!
The challenge, pink, yellow, orange, blue, and neutrals - either a combination of some or all... I just had to take a go at all of them and managed to fit it in!

I used PTI cardstock and patterned paper, bling from The Robin's Nest, Ippity What Matter's Most stamp set, misc lace trim and some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to spruce up my trim! The sweet little birdie is colored with copics and the wonderful sketch is from Card Positioning Systems - way too long since I have played over there!
So let's see, there's obviously pink, blue, and neutrals there, the little birdie's beak is yellow and all my edges are inked in orange!
Have a wonderful day! Hopefully my happy news will keep me on cloud nine even if it is a Monday!! Special thanks to everyone who kept me in their prayers! I truly appreciate it and ask that you continue to pray for me as I begin this new journey!

God Bless You,
Mary

Remember...

The first thing I would like to do today is ask everyone to remember the HEROS of September 11th, those who were lost that day and those who are still fighting for our freedom. May God Bless.

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Today's project is a replacement for Sunday's post which did not end up happening. Keeping with the theme of Sunday school Teachers Appreciation, and since the challenge over at Stampin Sisters in Christ is to thank teachers....


I give you framed art and a card! Now in the framed art you will see small writing, it really isn't that small in real life, but it is the Beatitudes. I think this would look great in a Sunday School room that uses bright colors, as all the papers are from Cosmo Cricket Early Bird, except the cardstock which is from Papertrey Ink.

The card is made from scraps left over after the framed art was made! Although I had originally intended this for my Sunday School room, I have decided to place it in a pile for when our Sunday School rooms at church are redecorated! I will let someone else have it for their class since the colors are not what I picked out for my paint :o) And with a 2Sketches4You challenge as the layout of the card - why not add it on there too!

And since it is Friday - how about an extra card for good measure! The sketch from this one comes from the wonderful Card Positioning Systems Blog! And you know what else? It is the first time I have used my sewing machine on a card!!!! I love the result, even for a first attempt!

Have a wonderful weekend and God Bless You. Don't forget to stop back by tomorrow for Scripture Saturday and CASE artist Saturday! You also don't want to miss the last of the prizes going on at Christian Paper Crafts all this week!!


God Bless You,

Scripture Saturday - SS004 - Joshua 1:6

"Be strong and courageous"

What powerful words that we are given here. You know, this verse one of the most easiest that I can explain (this part of it), is that we are to be strong and courageous knowing that God is with us. However, we also must remember that all strength and courage comes through the Father!

Please visit Christian Paper Crafts to play along with today's Scripture Saturday!!

Here is mine! Sorry to run, but we have church conference early this morning! Have a blessed weekend!

God Bless You,

Moon Roof Open, Radio Up...

It felt so good driving home from work this evening with the moon roof open and the radio blaring. I didn't drive in high school, actually I didn't get my license until I was getting ready to start college...never was in a hurry for them... My car that I have now is my first brand new car, even though it isn't brand new anymore...it makes me feel so spoiled! {Don't jump to any assumptions though, when someone mentioned that we must be 'well to do' for me to have a new car, I just replied that me, Geej, & Toyota financial all three happily share it...i just get to be the driver:) } For a while, we were a single car family and I MISSED getting to drive...sometime's it's my de-stress and wind down time of leaving work at work :)

I fell in love with the CPS sketch this week and knew what I was going to do as soon as I saw it! That does NOT happen much with me! I love the white dot paper I have saw on so many blogs, so I made my own with my swiss dot cuttlebug folder!

God Bless You,

Candy, Candy, Candy!!!

Today's blog must be all about the candy! And the best part is, no weight gain from this kind!

First of all, here is my card that fits both the CPS card challenge and the Paper Trey Ink Best Friend card challenge. The card is for my mom and she is my best friend because she is always there for me and loves me unconditionally. She is such a wonderful mom to me, wife to my dad, and "mam' to my little girl. I know, I used Swiss dots...AGAIN and the PTI Heart Prints...AGAIN!

Now to start off the blog birthday week - here is the first piece of candy that is going into the box - chipboard coasters! The possibilities with these are endless. Everyday I will be adding something else into the box all the way until next Monday, then I will use random number generator to give us a number. Enter every day for a better shot at winning! To enter - just chose to follow me, then leave a comment letting me know... That way when the winner is chosen, I can easily go to your info and let you know!!

Oh and the 2 Sketches Blog is having an Eye Candy for Blog Candy Contest...well, take a look at this eye candy I saw this weekend:

(YES, my hubby knows I posted Toby Keith for my eye candy!!)

God Bless You,

Mary

Just a CPS kind of Tuesday

Do you like snow? I sure don't. My friend Leslie is so tickled that it is snowing, she had to come to my office to see it trickling down today - I wish she was here now to look out my window - it is pouring. Although I despise it, her bubbly mood is always a warm welcome! I would rather have the snow on the weekend when I can stay home and enjoy it without having to worry about going to and from work.I am so into the CPS sketches lately! Here is my take on this one! I hope you enjoy. The stamp is from Punny Valentine from PTI, kraft cardstock from PTI embossed with the cuttlebug then smudged with some green ink from Close to My Heart, ribbon from American Crafts, brown c/s, and My Mind's Eye patterned paper!

Is anyone excited about the upcoming release from PTI? I can not wait until those new samples start rolling out and see what new sets are in store! I HIGHLY recommend their kraft cardstock - it is the best I have found!

God Bless You,
Mary