Cards For Kids

In life we all know someone who has been touched by cancer or some other terminal illness.  With each disease comes many days filled with stress, worry, and uncertainity!  Regardless of  the person, when it comes to sickness it is always so difficult to watch and to deal with. But when that person is a child who is experiencing these horrible situations, our hearts seem even heavier and more broken.  For those of us who have to sit by and watch these precious ones go through so much pain and hurt, and wonder how much more they can endure, a feeling of helplessness comes over us and we hang our head in dismay. To be able to make everything better is undoubtly the desire of our heart. These families are my real heros. Dealing with all of this while raising a family, working and finding time to connect with life in general is so much to do. And still they do it! Day in and day out!  What amazing faith and strength these families must have. That in itself is such a blessing to those of us who know them personally or know their stories. These little kids seem to keep going on and the thing that leaves me in awe and amazment is the ability of these little ones to encourage others with a laugh or a smile, and to make everyone else believe that everything will be okay - everything will workout in the end. What amazing and courageous people!  I pray that these families will know that there are so many people praying for them and bearing their precious children up before God. I pray that has each one goes through days, that are too difficult it feels like it hurts to even smile - that those days would be the ones that Jesus would walk into that room, embrace them in His Mighty arms and comfort and strengthen them like never before. That they would recieve a new strength and more courage to keep keeping on!

The wonderful thing about all of this is the love of those people who have come along side these families to share in some small way.  That they care and want to do something to help ease the pain.  One of these very special people is Jennifer McQuire.  If some of you do not know her, she is a lovely lady with such a big heart for others and for God. Her need to help others is such a blessing, and her giving of herself always comes easy. She also instills this heart of love and giving in her children. Her 15 year old daughter Kay, who is now taking over her Mom's blog while she is away at CHA (and doing a wonderful job I may add) is also very caring and compassionate. This can be seen in her love for cardmaking classes with younger kids.
Jennifer McQuire and her team of helpers have been doing a card drive in honour of these sick children. Her Cards for Kids is such a worthy cause. It inspires those of us who are cardmakers to send  a cheery card and to also send our prayers of support to the families. Please click on the above link or check my sidebar to see how you can participate in this very important event.

Another lady who has come alongside to help with child cancer is Deedee Anderson! She is the owner of Deedee's Digis.  A digital stamp store that offers wholesome and inspiring images. Deedee and her family have also been touched with the death of a very special little girl and in honour of this little sweetheart, a special set of Digital Stamps have been designed.  The proceeds from the sales of this set will be donated to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. To find out more about her story and tribute check it out here.
To support Childhood Cancer and to purchase this set of stamps, please see "Cuties for a Cure" in my sidebar. Thank you so much for your support and for helping in this small way. It is so appreciated! Hugs!

Today's cards are actually mini cards using "Cuties for a Cure".  They are so cute and are sure to bring a smile to some boy or girl! Sorry so many pics but there are 12 images in this set and I wanted you to see them all - okay.  These cards were made for the Cards for Kids card drive and also submitted in the SRM monthly contest.  So here they are!

Close- up Shots!

Supplies List

Stamps: Digital Stamps - Deedee's Digis, Punch: SU, Letter Stickers - Creative Memories

Cardstock: SU & Recollectins, Inks: Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Inks

Ribbon: SU, Dashes & Dots/Michaels, Daisy D

Pens: Marvy, Gel Pen/Tombo, Adhesives: Fiskars

Thank you so much for dropping by and for giving me the opportunity to share something with you that is close to my heart. I love to make cards but, more importantly, I love to make someone smile. I bet you do to!  So why not reach out to someone this week.  Maybe send someone a card, or phone someone for an inspiring chat. Maybe you can give a big hug to those you know just for being in your lives, or simply give a stranger a smile. As humans we all strive to live happy lives - what better way to live than striving to make someone else happy.

Love you all and praying for much happiness in your lives and everything you do!

Hugs & Blessings!
Dana

Wishing You A Sweet Summer

Today is another beautiful summer day, but this day brings a nice cool, well deserved breeze! Thaaaaaank Yooou Lord! With the weather being so hot, and the need to stay cool first in our minds, eating a nice cold yummy treat always helps to do the trick. I can remember growing up and my Mom always making our own cold treats. She would always fill up these Tupperware ice cube trays with fruit juice and they had these cool little sticks that had flowers on them.  We thought it was the coolest thing! (Pardon the pun! Lol!)  We seriously thought it was the best but nowadays, kids would rather opt for Dairy Queen. Well to be honest, I would too! Lol! But no matter how great Dairy Queen ice cream taste I would never trade those memories of when we helped my Mom mix the juice and then pour it into the trays. Our anticipation would drive her crazy ! We would ask, what seemed like every five or ten minutes, if the treats were frozen yet! Lol! She would always laugh and say that we needed to wait longer. Everyone knows that this is not the answer that a kid is waiting for right!  The best part was all the fun and laughter we shared on those hot summer days making those cool treats.

With times changing, everyone being so busy, and everything being at our fingertips, we sometimes get caught up in the newest things, latest fads, and keeping up with the Jones!  I long for those days of old, when time spent together wasn't just watching the clock so you could get your kid to bed, our out the door, but a opportunity to actually take your time and enjoy the person your with.  The time together is always special.  My son often says that we always seem to rush him and he is right! My goal for the remainder of this year, is not to keep asking "Is it done yet?" rushing the process, like I did when my Mom and I made those cool yummy treats, but to wait patiently, do what needs to be done. And when the waiting is through, the end result will be well worth the wait.

Trusting that in your lives today that you are enjoying each other. That those times when life seems so crazy that you will pause for a few moments.  Relax and maybe sit and enjoy a nice cool ice cream. During the eating process you will not rush but enjoy every bit and think that life can be viewed through looking at and eating a cool summer treat!

The card I made for this post is using digital images from Deedee's Digis store and is called "Taste & See" and can be found here.  Remember you receive a Free Gift with a $10.00 purchase. Check it out!

I had so much fun making this card.  I was so happy the day that we went to the Mall and I came across this scrapbooking paper.  I told my hubby that I just had to have it because it matched so well with Deedee's Image and he just laughed.  I know that we are on a budget but just had to have it and lucky for me the paper pad was only $ 9.00  Someone must have been looking down on me that day because I haven't been buying a lot of supplies lately, but so wanted this one. So I got this paper and I am so happy that I did because it compliments this sweet little girl and her ice cream so well. 

And side view to show detail.

Supply List:

Pattern Paper & Ice Cream Sticker: Momenta

Cardstock: Recollections, SU & The Paper Company,

Colouring Pencils: Crayola Watercolour Pencils, Gel Pen: Signo

Ribbon: Daisy D, Brads & Bling: Dollarama

Just wanted to share a little about something that I have been working on for the past few days.  I have been involved with sending cards to the Cards For Kids campaign that is organized by Jennifer McGuire and her team for the past year or so.  I needed to get some cards made and out before the end of this month. So Deedee of Deedee's Digis had asked if the team members had a request for images. I truly believe that this was my opportunity to share my heart with her and the need to have images that could be used quickly to make a bunch of cards.  I was elated when she produced not one image, but twelve in honor of those kids who are sick with Cancer or other terminal diseases.  I was so blessed that I had actually cried, but it gets better. She is selling these images at her store with all proceeds going to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. Wow what a wonderful gesture!

To read more about why Deedee decided to do this read her post on her blog here. Be sure to check it out because she is giving away a set of these for her Blog Candy! Check my sidebar to see this amazing set.

Cancer has touched the lives of so many and the need for a cure is stronger than ever before, so why not purchase "Cuties for a Cure" and show your support.  Please check back in tomorrow when I will be revealing some of my cards made with this set. Throughout the remainder of this month I will be sharing some cards that I made for this worthy cause. Be sure to check my sidebar or the link above to find out all the info to participate in Cards For Kids.

Sorry this post was so long.  It was suppose to go out yesterday, but due to a delay, I had to combine yesterday and today's post. I will try not to do this again!  Hoping that you will drop by again to see some yummy eye candy! 

Hugs & Blessings

Dana

With The Right Flip Flops You Can Do Anything!

Well with this hot weather I am more than sure that flip flops and maybe sandals (lol!) are the shoes of choice these days! The weather is very hot here in my part of Canada and don't get me wrong, I love nice weather, but when it gets so humid that you feel icky, than it is way too hot! I have to say that if we had a pool to swim in that my opinion would be different! Lol! It is really nice now though! We have a nice cool breeze blowing through the house and it is heaven sent!

Well my card for today is such a cheerful card that I am sure it will make eveyone smile. I just love Deedee's Digis and the one I used here is the Flip Flop with sentiment.  It is so stinkin cute! I had so much fun adding to it and adding some more! Lol! You can purchase this Dollar Digi at the store here.  I also made this card for today's challenge over at Deedee's Digis Craft Blog! You can play along with the Happy Monday Challenge too and recieve today's new Dollar Image, which is so cute. Check it out here!  Be sure to play along and join in the fun. This card was combined with a Split Coast Stampers Challenge which is called "Yellow Sunshine" and can be found here and also the challenge over at Tuesday Throwdown. I am just squeezing this in now for the Tuesday Throwdown. I am so slow it seems. Lol!  Whynot join me in these challenge and you never know you might win something!

Here is my card! Hope that you like it!  I had so much fun making this pleated collar to fit around the oval.

Supplies List:

Flip Flop Image/Sentiment - Deedee's Digis, Flowers - Prima, Pp - Martha Stewart(Woodland) & K&Company ( Wild Saffron), Jewels - Dollarama, Cdstk - SU, colouring pens- CM, Distress Inks - Tim Holtz/Ranger, Gel Pen- Signo, Watercolor markers - Bienfang, Glitter - Unknown (from a Friend)

Thanks so much for dropping bye to see what I have been up too! I hope that you are enjoying your summer and having loads of fun with your family and friends.  Trusting that with each memory there is a photo to help you remember it tomorrow! Wishing you lots of summer fun.

Hugs & Blessings

Dana

Summer Party Ideas

With all of this hot weather, the most that anyone would like to do is kick back and relax. Summer is also the time to enjoy the sun and have fun with friends. This time of year brings about many opportunities to socialize around a meal.  Barbacues, Picnics, Pool Parties, Birthdays, Weddings and the list goes on! Lol! Whatever one you choose, I am sure that there is always preparation and even before that stage, there is presentation. Parties are always great but when you spruce them up to be something that folks can walk away from always remembering, than you know you have done your job! With this in mind, I want to share some projects that I completed with a Luau or Tropical Pool Party Theme. I hope you enjoy them and that you find these ideas useful.
All images used for these projects are from Deedee's Digital store and can be purchased by clicking the store button in my sidebar panel. With so many images to choose from I am sure you won't walk away dissapointed with your purchase!

This flower was attached by gluing a paperclip to the back of the flowers and then clipped to the glass! This digital image was from the Sweetest Flower set.

 Here are some more ideas using the Flamingo from the Fabulous Friends set. 

Close-up of Juice Bottles. These can be added to glasses as well.

This flamingo, was used for a name label to help guest identify their beverage. You can reuse these each year by covering them in proctector vinyl. (This is the same item that is used to cover your kids school text books each year. I found this at my local Dollar Store and can be purchased at Walmart as well.) To write each guest name, you should use a draw erase marker, so that after the party you can just erase the name, remove name label/tag from bottle and use again for next year.!

You can use any image you want to add these little touches. For a kids birthday party the options are endless. A boy's party you could use images of trucks and place them on cups or for girls, maybe a princess crown. Along with these tropical projects seen above, you can add patio latern lights or just plain white mini lights around your deck or eating area. Have everyone wear a lei and hang or place leis at different locations to add that tropical feel!  Use fruit like lime and lemons (any kind, maybe tropical ones) in a clear glass vase to create table center pieces. Also if you grow your own flowers and have plenty in bloom, cut some for flower arrangements or to place overtop of folded napkins! (Be sure it is small in size and free of any loose pollen! Lol! You want guest, not bees at your party! Lol! ) You could use tiki lights and place in the ground or in a bucket of sand.to provide you with a soft glow. I could go on and on!  The ideas are countless! Hopefully the ones I have shared with you today will help give your party that little touch of something special.

Here is wishing you many warm summer nights to get together with family and friends. Nights to reminse about days gone buy, to share a laugh or too and to just enjoy the beauty of Summer. Whatever the case I trust that it will be an opportunity to take lots of pictures and make many memories. Maybe when you look back on this summer, there might just be something special that will help you have a better summer next year.

Be Safe & Enjoy The Summer!

Hugs & Blessings
Dana

Weddings & Anniversaries

With summer comes weddings! Weddings are a special event no matter what time of the year, but a summer wedding just seems to make the celebration a little unique or maybe a little different. Maybe it is the fact that it is hot and everyone is enjoying the weather, or maybe it is the fact that mostly everyone seems to be so laid back during this time. Some on vacation and others wishing they were! Lol!  Whatever the case, it is a special time and with this comes the opportunity to make some elegant cards for an amazing event. I have some wedding and anniversary cards to make for some friends.  After making an anniversary card for my hubby, I decided I needed to catch up and replenish my stash. This was also made for the contest over at SRM Stickers and for Hero Arts contest. Please see sidebar for these stores and all they have to offer.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Bazzil, Paper Company

Pattern Paper: American Traditional Designs (Elegant Wedding)

Digital Image: Hero Arts Butterfly Digi Kit

Inks: Stampin' Up

Pearls: Prima & Ranger Liquid Pearls

Stickers: Creative Memories (Romance Titles)

Stamps: Autumn Leaves (Stampology)

Ribbon: Dollarama (Organza)

I had so much fun making this card! I love to pretty things up and I am not sure if I did this way to much for the challenge over at SRM Stickers because the challenge is Clean & Simple. Oh well! Here goes nothing! It is simple compared to what I would normally do!  I would have added flowers but was trying to let the title do the talking and not the rest of the card. Why not check out the challenges and join in the fun!

Thank you so much for checking in!  We are off to the doctor with a sick kid! Praying that it isn't pneumonia again like last summer! Hope you and yours are healthy and doing well. Thanks for all your support!

Hugs & Blessings

Dana

Quick Post

Hi Everyone!
Hope your having a great day and maybe getting a chance to have some fun with your family in some great  warm summer weather!

I just wanted to share a card that I made for a few challenges. I just feel in love with this Digital Image from Deedee's Digital Store when I used it for our Luau over at Crafter's Digital Art Center, that I had to use it again! So here I paired it up with an amazing image from Hero Arts Butterfly Digi Kit that you can purchase over at 2 Peas. I just love these because you can make them big or small or anything in between! This week over at Stamping Sisters In Christ, their challenge was to use red and/or blue in your creation and I used both. I so loved how this turned out and hope that you like it too!

Supplies List:

Card made using the following:

Hero Arts - Friends background stamp and Butterfly Digi Kit

Deedee's Digis Sweetiest Flower Set

SU - sentiment, scalloped oval punch, cardstock and inks

Tim Holtz/Ranger - inks

Bazzil - Cardstock

Staedtler - watercolour pencils

Dollarama - Bling, Adhesives

Fiskars - Adhesives
Tim Holtz Distress Stickles

This card was made for the following Challenges. Click link to check them out!
Deedee's Digis Embellishment at DCAC, Stampin Sisters In Christ, and Hero Arts Monthly Contest!
Be sure to check out these challenges for some amazing prizes and inspiration! 

Hugs & Blessings
Dana

Anniversary Wishes

Well yesterday I was meaning to share a card with you but, seeming it was my 14th Wedding Anniversary and my hubby was off from work, it didn't happen.  We did some family things and later in the day went out for dinner.  I was so happy to have him greet me with a kiss and a dozen of red roses. Wow! A dozen! I have had roses before but not a dozen! They are beautiful!

And another pic of these beauties!!!

I can't believe that it is 14 years and I wonder often where the time as gone! I won't deny that we have had a few bumps along the way, but I can honestly say that we are just as in love as what we were first when we started dating. He is an amazing man with so many good qualities, but one of the most important to me, is him being a good Dad!  I know this to be very true! I am so grateful and so blessed to have him in my life and thank God daily for his love and devotion to our marriage and to our family.  In a world where marriage seems to be falling apart and appears to have less value, I am proud that we have come this far.  God is a major part of our marriage and it is because of our faith that we can celebrate this day. Thanks Babe for all you do and continue to do, to be the leader  of our home. Love you so much!  ( Yes, he does follow my blog and is a supporter!  He is the one who is helping me to give this blog a face-lift!)

I normally give my hubby a store bought card but this year I felt that I should make him one myself. I had some thinking to do with this card because I normally don't make masculine cards. And this one had to have a romantic feel to it as well. I have made male cards before but they have been whimsical but nothing like this! I am so proud of myself for giving this a try. I am so happy with how it turned out, but most importantly I am happy about my hubby's response when I gave it to him! He said that it was beautiful and he was touched bye the words, which I won't share! Lol! Maybe he is being bias! Lol! He probably would have said the same thing if it was a card made from a tissue box because he is always supportive! Lol! Anyway, I had fun making it and was happy that it made his day!

I am so happy that you came to visit and hope you will come back tomorrow. I have so many things that I need to get ready to share, but I seem to be so slow. Must be all of this hot weather. Check back next week because I have some fun Summer/Luau Party Ideas to share with you. Ideas to help make your summer parties interesting! I trust that you are all having a great summer and that you are making many amazing memories to remember for years to come.

Hugs & Blessings
Dana

A Luau Invitation

Do you love the long hot days of summer? Do you dream of spending time in an hot tropical place? Or taking a dip in a tropical blue sea? I would love to be some where hot and tropical with a cool coconut drink of some sort in my hand and not a care in the world! Lol!

Well the Design Team of Deedee's Digis may not be able to take you on a dream trip like the one described above right now, but they are putting off a Luau over at Crafters' Digital Art Center. Today is the Kick Off for the release of Deedee's Digis, a new digital store with loads of amazing digital images that can be used for any sort of crafting.

The girls have come up with some really amazing cards and other creations, but I can't tell you what they are because you have to come and join in the FUN! There are some challenges and prizes that you don't want to miss out on! So hop on over to Deedee's Group at CDAC and join us for Coconut & Pineapple drinks, loads of opportunities to wear your grass skirt and of course, to feel the cool tropical breeze. Can't wait to see you there!

In honour of such a great store, here is a sneek peek of what today has to offer!



Supplies ListDeedee's Digi (Flamingo Friend Set), Prima Pattern Paper & Bling, Stampin Up scalloped punch, Martha Stewart Lacy Punch, Staedtler Watercolor Pencils, Corsage Pin By Floral Craft, Stampin Up Inks, Ribbon Dollarama

See you at the Party!
Wishing You An Awesome Day!
Dana