Goodbye Mesa....see you nex year!

Well, our time here in Mesa, Arizona has come to an end. Tomorrow morning we head home to Manitoba. It's been an amazing 2 mths. but now it's time to go home to our family. Just a couple of pictures before I leave. I made another blanket....this one is for my daughter for her birthday. Then, there is finally another card. It is for an Easter card exchange at TCC. The adorable image is from Robyn's Fetish. And finally, my honey & I enjoying a beautiful drive to Tortilla Flat for lunch. Talk to you all when I get home. Be well!

St. Patrick's Day

Spent a wonderful St. Patrick's day with great friends...both old & new. We had a beautiful day for the celebrations which included singing, dancing, lots of good food & the occasional "medicinal" beverage! Thought I would share a picture of the lovely colleens who helped me celebrate. (that's me on the far left)

Luck O' the Irish

This is a sample of the ATC's that I made for the "Luck O' the Irish" swap run by the wonderful Kristy over a TCC. I had a great time doing this one. Anything Irish is very close to my heart as I was born in Belfast, N. Ireland. I came to Canada as a 5 yr. old but was lucky enough to be able to spend every summer in Ireland from the age of 10-18yrs. old. Some of my fondest childhood memories are from those special summers. My first trip over in 1961 I met a lovely friend called Anne. We remained dear friends until she passed away from cancer in 1997. Our lives are still joined in a very special way because my son ended up marrying her daughter! Anyway, hope you like the ATC & my little story. Cead mile failte means A hundred thousand welcomes in Irish Gaelic.

St. Patrick's tag

This is the tag I made for the challenge over at Robyn's Fetish at The Crafter's Cafe. Thanks so much to Robyn for this adorable image to use on the tag. Just incase you can't read the saying around the edge it says "May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue, And may happiness fill your heart each day all year through."

Now I'm off to work on my ATC's for the March swap (also at TCC). While I'm enjoying my time here in Arizona, I am REALLY missing my stash of paper & stuff back home. I have had a terrible time finding any Irish themed paper here this year. Last year I bought loads of it but of course, it is at home in that prized STASH!!! Can't win some times!

Family Fun

My daughter, son-in-law & two granddaughters are here visiting us in Arizona. The last couple of days have been really fun! Yesterday we went to the Sealife Aquarium & saw all sorts of colorful fish, seahorses & rays. But today was awesome....we spent the whole day at Out of Africa, a wildlife safari park. I actually kissed a giraff & a camel! There were lots of beautiful big cats (lions, tigers & panthers), grizzly bears, hyenas (the girls loved these guys!) a rhino, zebras, all sorts of horned creatures whose names I can't remember, a boa constrictor & assorted lizards! What a great family day!

My hands haven't been idle!

I haven't made any cards lately but I haven't been sitting idle either. I made some fleece blankets for my granddaughters who are coming to Arizona for a visit on Sunday. This was my first attempt at these "no sew" blankets & I was pleased with how they turned out. I do not like sewing at all, so these are right up my alley! Then, yesterday I went to the silver shop here at the park & made a ring (with a lot of help from a lovely gentleman called Jim). I did manage to do all the soldering....without burning myself even once! Life here at Silveridge RV park is wonderful. We have good friends from home here with us but have also made many new friends.

Finally....some new cards!

Life has been pretty busy since we arrived in Mesa on Feb. 1st, but I finally got to make some cards! The first one I made for a friend here in the park for her birthday....like me, she enjoys a glass of wine so this Emerson Quillen image is perfect! The rest are cards I made at a class which was Stampin Up. It was a fun afternoon & I got to meet some wonderful ladies from all over the US & Canada.

Craft withdrawal!

Hi everyone; I am now in Mesa, Arizona (arrived on Wed.) & haven't had any crafting time since arriving. I am starting to go into withdrawal! If I don't get my hands on some paper, digis, prismacolors & ribbon soon I think I'll go crazy! Hope to have some time tomorrow to create & get into some of the great challenges going on out there!

Toadily in Love

This is my entry in the Robyn's Fetish Valentine Challenge over at TCC. These toadies & that sentiment really appeal to my somewhat warped sense of humor! The patterned paper is from Doddle Bug (red & white hearts) & Basic Grey (background); cardstock is Prism & the bling hearts are from the dollar store. The toad image is from Robyn's Fetish. I colored it using my prismacolor pencils & OMS then glittered the heart with Glamour Dust.
Other challenges I would like to enter:
Crafters Companion
Poodles Parlour
Simply Create Too
Wags & Whiskers
Ruby's Rainbow
Scrapbook Sisters

Sunflower hasty notes

I made this set of hasty notes in their own adorable little box for an entry in our local craft show...a craft featuring sunflowers....& it won 1st. prize. I got the idea from Splitcoast Stampers. The papers are SEI with Bazzill cardstock; the sunflower stamp is from the dollar store & the cute little sentiments & squiggles are from  the "Flutterfly Friends" set from Stampendous. Hope you like it!

Dressing up!

Hi; this is the card I am entering in the Jellypark friends Friday challengs...something in my pocket. I also want to enter her in Whimsical Wednesdays & Crafty Sentiments. Hope I can manage it!

Snow Dog

This is one of my favorite pictures of my black lab Morgan. Unlike most humans, Morgan LOVES the snow! She rolls around like she is doing snow angels or sticks her nose down deep in it as if she is searching for buried treasure! I finished this page on Sunday & learned the next day that my beautiful Morgan has bladder cancer. My heart is aching as I post this picture as a tribute to one great dog who has enriched my life for over 12 yrs. Thanks my Morgs! I love you!

Bunny Bath..... FBC78

This card is for the "pink, white & kraft" challenge at FBD. The stamp is one of my favorites...Bunny Bath by Stampabilities. Not sure what the papers are, they are from my scraps pile. The ribbon is Maya Road & the bling is Kaisercraft. Hope you like it!

Happy Birthday

This is a card I made for the "birthday challenge" over at TCC. The image is "Buttons the clown" from Digital Delights by Louby Lou. The patterned paper is from Fancy Pants & cardstock is Bazzill. The birthday sentiment is Penny Black & of course there is the Stickles that I love so much! I am sending this card to my little great-nephew who is turning 3yrs. old next month.

ATC's

This is my first attempt at making ATC's. These were made for a swap over at TCC. The only restriction was that the card had to feature a poinsettia. This image is an Inkadinkado stamp. Sorry, I don't know what the papers are (I cut the bottoms off my papers when I get them so they will fit in my case) The image is colored with Prismacolor pencils & Gamsol & the center is highlighted with good old Stickles. The bling is from Dollarama. Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers,
Renee

It's Winter!

Winter has arrived here in Lac Du Bonnet! Yesterday it was beautiful outside (+8C) & today it is cold & miserable! Snowing like crazy.....brrr! It's a good day to hide out in the craftroom, so I think that is exactly what I will do. I'm working on several things at the moment....finishing up some ATC's for a swap (I've never made ATC's before) then there is a birthday card challenge & a valentine challenge. I got the cutest "froggie" image for the valentine card....can't wait to use it.
Happy crafting!

WOW

Yesterday I told you I had won 2 prizes at TCC open house....make that 3! Found out today I also won a pack of wonderful goodies on one of the games. I have been soooo lucky since joining the site!

Out of town for 4 days now....off to see my granddaughter Jessica play in a hockey tournament. Need to get busy on some cards when I get back!

TCC open house

The holiday open house at TCC was so so much fun! Thanks so much to Jen & everyone else who helped organize this fabulous event! I was lucky enough to win 2 awesome prizes!

2012

Happy New Year everyone!!!

The last few cards of 2011!

These were made for a couple of the challenges over at TCC "Christmas Open House"