Hey all! I hope you are all having a fabulous day! The weather here in the Ozarks is beautiful! It is much needed after all the yucky snow we have had over the last month or so. I am so happy to see warmer weather and sunshine in the forecast for most of the week!

Here is a card that I have to share with you today.

I just think that this paper from Fancy Pants is too cute! The stamps and nautical dies are from Verve. (it is a company that I ran accross when I was surfing the web and I just fell in love with the products, and would love to have them all!)

Here is the inside of the card. This die is also from Verve. Hope you like it!

I really hope the rest of your day is wonderful and I will be back soon! Love, Hugs & Blessings!
Amy

Big Day!

Hey all! I am so happy to announce that my daughter finally got to take her driving test and she is now on the roads! She was over the moon excited to get her license on Friday! I, on the other hand, was so super nervous. That is a whole new stress level added, not to mention EXPENSIVE! Holy cow, insurance for a teen is outrageous. lol

Today is a bittersweet day here for my family for a few reasons. One, my girls no longer have to ride the school bus now that the oldest is driving. That means that my babies are no longer babies (with the exception of my little guy), which is scary and exciting at the same time. Also, my farmer guy has started a new adventure today. After 14 years working for the same company as a concrete foreman, he has decided to start a new career path. We are hoping that this gives his body some needed healing and allows him to focus on his first love (farming/agriculture). His new job is buying tractor parts for re-manufacturing. This is a huge leap for us, but I have faith that this is the best move for us as a family.

So, all that being said, here is a card I have to share with you today.

 





I just LOVE how this card turned out. The paper is from my stash. The horse stamp is one that I had bought from Michaels (probably a Recollection brand, but can't swear to it), the letter stamps are from My Craft Spot, and banner dies are from Verve. I used Tim Holtz walnut distress ink for all my edges.

Here is a look at the inside. I think the boot stamp is just too cute!  Not sure if you can see in the picture, but the paper has spurs on it.

I hope you like it! Be back soon. Love, Hugs & Blessings!
Amy

Card Challenges

I have noticed on all the blogs that I have been visiting that everyone participates in challenges. How do I find out different card challenges going on so that I can try and participate? I really want to dive in, learn stuff, make crafty friends, and get my creative juices flowing!

Happily Ever After

Hey all! Happy Tuesday! The sun is finally shining here today, and the latest snow is starting to melt away. I am so ready for all of the snow to be gone for the year. I know my daughter is too, she is dieing to get her license. I'm so happy to see the beautiful sun shine in through my windows. (with the exception of the fact that it is illuminating the dust layer on my hardwood) My furry people are happy to see it too. They are camped out in the front of the glass doors taking a snooze. It's amazing how a ray of sunshine can completely turn around your mood!

I have an anniversary card to share with you today. I believe that the paper is from K & Company, the heart border die is from Verve and the sentiment is from My Craft Spot. It's hard to see in the picture, but I have added some liquid pearls between each of the hearts. The ribbon is from my stash. I just love the golden yellow!

Here is a look at the inside.

I just love the colors of this card. I hope you like it! Be back soon!

Love, Hugs & Blessings!
Amy

 

 

 

Celebrate Good Times!

Hey all! Today has just flown by! My oldest daughter has her school's basketball homecoming dance tonight. She has spent the entire day getting ready! She and her boyfriend just left and they looked super adorable! (they always do) I can't wait to see the pictures of her with all her friends. She is so blessed with the sweetest boyfriend and group of friends. I could honestly just gobble them all up!

I want to thank Brenda for the info she sent me yesterday on taking better pictures of my projects. It came in super handy. I need to get better bulbs for my lamps and I think things will look tons better. Also, a big thank you to everyone who took the time to leave me sweet comments on my cards yesterday! I appreciate the kind words and can't wait to start getting followers of my blog! My goal is to get 100 followers and I will give a prize!

Now, on to business. Lol. Here is a birthday card that I made. The super cute paper is from Crate Paper, the triangle border on the front, XL label, stamps, and cupcake are all MCT products. (I told y'all that I was addicted!) The cupcake border on the inside of the card is a Fiskars punch. I just don't think you can go wrong with cupcakes. I mean,who doesn't like cupcakes?? I hope you like it!

Here is a look at the inside.

Love, Hugs & Blessings!

Help Needed

Hey all! I think that maybe some of my technical issues are now fixed! (yay!) My sweet sister-in-law has let me borrow one of her laptops since my poor computer went to be with his maker. I also now have internet service again. My farmer guy needed to cut down a tree and so he thought he could remove the Dish, place a mark on it, and then place it back in the exact spot...Laughable, I know! (he really thought he could do it.) He couldn't, and I am now back in business, finally. (YES!) I will not have to try and post any more with my cell phone. (that was a nightmare!) Now, I have a few more things on my agenda that I want to get accomplished. My next form of business is to figure out how everyone is taking such beautiful pictures of their cards to post...I craft at my kitchen table or counter and so I don't have very good lighting. When I am taking pictures, they are by no means doing justice to the beautiful paper and finished product. Anyone have any suggestions on how I should be taking pictures?? Do you use special lighting? After looking at some of my favorite blogs, I noticed that they are listing all of the supplies that they used on their project. Now that I am back on a regular computer, I will make sure to list all of my "ingredients." I for sure want to give credit to all of the awesome companies/products out there! I'm also reading up on my Blogging for Dummies book so I can figure out how to do all the fancy linking up, make the blog look acceptable, etc. (A gal has to start somewhere, right?) I'm off to comfort my crying little guy. Be back tomorrow!

A Second Post

Hey all! I just couldn't stop myself once I pulled out all of my MCT dies and stamps. I just had to make a second card! Here is my attempt at a more masculine card. It seems like these are always hard for me! It is so hard to refrain from putting on ribbon and sparkles! (A girl likes her bling! lol) Here is a look at my card.

Here is a look at the inside.

I am really pleased with the outcome! I just love the paper! Can you believe that the stamp and die I used on the inside was a freebie with the last release?! Too cute! I hope you like it! I will be back tomorrow with another card!

Guest Designer

Hey all! I can't begin to express how excited that I am to be the guest designer over at My Creative Time today. I am just beside myself with giddiness. (yes giddiness!) I love all of Miss Emma's stamps and dies. Each time I buy one I say that I can't possible buy any more, but then she comes out with a new release and I can't help myself! I'm hooked! That being said, I have a card that I created with lots of MCT products. I hope you like!

Here is a look at the inside.

I am really happy with how it turned out. It really got me in the mood to make more Valentine stuff! I will be back tomorrow with another!

The Big Day is Finally Here

Hey all! Today is such an exciting day around my place. My daughter finally turned 16 today. Yay! She was super excited when she got up this morning. Ready to go take her driving test. That car sitting in the driveway is calling her name and she is ready to hop in and go. Unfortunately, the icky nasty weather we have had this week has caused all of the local DMVs to cancel tests...I know, she was crushed! (big bummer) On the plus side, today is also her sweet boyfriend's birthday, so they were gonna go hang out together. (he is a year older, so he can drive) She has her fingers crossed that she will be able to take it tomorrow. (I sure hope she can!) Anyway, it is so hard to believe that we are already a week into February! Yikes, time flies. I can't believe how soon Valentine's Day is. I have so much to do before then! I have a simple Valentine card to share with you today. I hope you like it! I just love this super cute paper! I will be back tomorrow! I am more than excited. Tomorrow is my guest design day at My Creative Time! I can't wait for you to see the cards that I have made for Miss Emma! Love, Hugs & Blessings! Amy

Happy Tuesday Y'all

Hey all! Happy Tuesday. It's been yucky and snowing here all day today. I have to admit that I'm so ready for spring! I'm so grateful to be blessed with a warm home! My daughter is freaking out because she wants to try and get her license on Thursday (her 16th birthday). I'm trying to convince her a few days won't kill her...she begs to differ! Lol Anywho, I have a card to share! I used lots of MCT products on this card. I just love Emma's dies and stamps! I hope you like it!

Be back tomorrow! Love, Hugs & Blessings! Amy

MIA...

Hey all! I've been MIA for almost a month. It's been super CRAZY at my little house in the woods.Between sick kids, busy cheer schedule for the girls, planning a surprise party for my soon to be 16 year old (yikes!), etc. The list could go on and on. Lol. To top it off, my poor computer kicked the bucket...oh my! I'm glad to say that I believe some sort of normalcy will soon be headed my way. I did find a bit of time to put together a card to share! I hope you like!

For this card I used some of my favorite dies and stamps from MCT. I love the hot air balloon! I think it turned out pretty cute! Be back with another tomorrow! Love, Hugs & Blessing! Amy

Rough Week

Hey all! It's been a while since I last posted.  2014 has had a rocky start for us so far. The weather here in the Midwest has extended my kid's Christmas break and extra week.  Three weeks of them home has definitely got things around our place a little hectic.  They are restless and I am ready to get things back on schedule.  The snow has also kept my farmer guy from his full time concrete job.  Almost five weeks off work makes things tough.  And to top it all off, my farmer guy and I spent the last week up at the hospital with our little guy.  He became horribly sick last week and spent five days in the hospital, with three of those being in ICU.  I am more than happy to say that he is feeling much better and we are all back home! God has been good to us!  I am very grateful for everyone who sent us well wishes and helped us out with our two girls so we were able to be at the hospital the entire time.  We have amazing friends and family!  We are blessed beyond what we deserve.

With that being said, now that I am home and things are semi back to normal, I will be working my fanny off on a very special project.  (believe me, my fanny needs to be worked off)  My oldest daughter will be turning 16 on February 6. (omg, that makes me feel so old!)  I am planning a surprise party for her and will be making decorations.  We haven't had a birthday party around our place since the kids were much smaller.

Since this is her 16th birthday, I am planning a "sweet" theme party, complete with cupcakes and candy galore!  I started making some cute cupcake toppers this afternoon.  I will also be making a fun banner to hang, party favors for our guests and some candy jars full of goodies! I will start posting pictures tomorrow when my kids finally go back to school and I can work on things without having to worry about wandering eyes!

Love, Hugs & Blessing!
Amy

Baby It's Cold Outside

Hey all! Last night here in the Midwest, we were blanketed with about 6 inches of snow.  It looks simply beautiful from our living room window with the trees and tractors snow covered.  That being said, our temperatures are supposed to drop down in the negative digits tonight, with the wind chill being nearly -20.  I am so thankful to be sitting in a warm house with a full belly, watching television with the family.

My farmer guy and I took a few minutes to go check on some of our new calves that have been born during this cold snap.  With all of the snow on the ground and the freezing temps, we like to check on them a few times a day. On our way to check in on the fur babies, we noticed a car slid off the road into the ditch.  We stopped to see if they needed help.  It was two teen boys just sitting waiting for help. My farmer guy grabbed a chain from the back of the truck and pulled them out.  While all this was going on, I couldn't help but think about how cold they must have been sitting in their car in the ditch.  They weren't wearing coats and their car wouldn't stay running because of all the snow they were in.  If they were freezing sitting in a cold car for an hour, how cold must those who are homeless on nights like tonight be? It made my heart ache for those who aren't able to get warm tonight. I hope that those goodie bags my sister and I made and provided for Christmas are at least keeping some hands warm tonight. I just wish everyone could be blessed with enough warmth to make it through this cold.

I hope to be getting back into some sort of routine now that the kids are headed back to school after a two week holiday break. I plan on bellying up to the kitchen table tomorrow and crafting away.  I will make sure to post pictures of my project as soon as I am finished.

I hope that wherever you are tonight, you are warm!

Love, Hugs & Blessings!
Amy

New Year, New Beginnings

Hey all! A new year means new beginnings, which I think is super fabulous.  I need to start each year with a clean slate, its good for my sanity! lol. I sat down this morning to reflect over 2013 and set a few goals for 2014. All-in-all, in 2013 I was blessed way beyond measure with more than I deserved. I am truly thankful for everything in my life! The end of 2013 caught me off guard with a few surprises, which made me more excited about the new year.

I know that statistics say something like 80% of people don't follow through with their new year's resolutions. (not positive of that statistic, but it sounds about right.) Too many times I have found myself in that large bracket of non follow throughers. (I know that's not an accurate word, but it sounds good to me.) This year I am setting my sights high, I am aiming for the stars.  I'm a dreamer, it's just who I am.  I want to find myself striving to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend this year.  I am going to try to quit complaining about piddly little things, and focus on the bigger picture and be grateful for the little things. I want to really focus on my crafting by learning new techniques, getting outside my comfort zone, and really taking my projects to the next level.  I want to create projects that I am proud to have my name on and share with others. I want to learn all there is to having a successful blog and really strive to get my name out there.

And finally, I am going to really chose my words wisely.  In 2013 I learned a lot about how much words can hurt. They hurt no matter what age you are.  They hurt, they linger and they can not be taken back! I will be listening more and putting thought into each word that leaves my lips.  I want all my words to be well thought out and spoken with love.

Here's to a fabulous 2014!

Love, Hugs & Blessings!
Amy