A Deployed Christmas...

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope ya'll have had a wonderful day spent with family and friends!  My thoughts are with all the deployed service members and families of the deployed who can't spend today together.  Sending thoughts and (((HUGS))) ya'lls way!
Sadly the only Christmas Cards I made and sent out this year were to my deployed spouses.  The last few months have been so crazy for me.  My daughter started working a new job with different hours, which means I have the grand boys all day.  Needless to say trying to craft during that time has been very challenging, I get in what I can tho=)  Anyhow, as I said these are for my deployes spouse's.  As a key spouse one of my duties is to check up on them and make sure they're doing ok and see if they need anything during their spouse's deployement.  One of the ways I like to do this is by sending them a card...lets them know I'm here for them and am thinking of them too=)

I started off with Neenah, Momento, and Copics.  I fussy cut ALM Sparkling Season out, then paper pieced her ornament and added a glaze pen to her boots.  Cherry Cobbler, Black, EP This & That Christmas paper, Marvy Snowflake Punch, SU Linen Thread, and a Button.  My entry for RCC75, Holiday Spirit.  I used MFTWSC99.

Last month I went to a dinner the base holds for all the deployed spouse's, it was my first one attending.  I talked to several families to see how they were doing and handling the deployment.  One spouse told me her husbands squadron bought the deployed spouse's tickets to their Christmas Party.  I thought, hmmm...what a fabulous idea!!!  So, I talked with my husband and asked him what he thought of me inviting our deployed spouses and purchasing their tickets (we only have a handful that are deployed, not several like other squadron's on the base so it wouldn't be finacially draining).  Anyhow, a couple of the deployed spouses said they'd love to attend, it so made my night!  I'm so glad they got out for the evening.  Below are a couple of pictures from our Christmas party...

Me and my hubs

My deployed spouses

Ladies in Red (and black, lol)...

Ugly Sweater Dance Off- Gangnam Style...

Santa & Mrs. Claus

Thank-you so much for stopping by!

Enjoy the rest of your Christmas!

Halloween Paper Bag Treat Bags...

Oh my heck...I'm finally done with these treat bags, yay!!!  What originally was going to be a quick and simple project turned into a huge time consuming one.  I made 31 of these Halloween Treat Bags to give to my hubs troops and spouses today at our Children's Halloween Party.  Every year his squadron decorates the doors to their offices and hallways, the active duty members get dressed up at the end of the day then the kids get to trick or treat their offices.  After they're done trick or treating, our Spouses Group has a little Halloween Party for them with crafts, games, and food.  This year my grandboys (3 1/2 and 2) are going as...Woody and Buzz.  They're both really excited, especially Wylie...every day he asks me, "Mommom, we have Halloween Party?"  Love him!

This is my entry for RCC73, which is Halloween Spirit.  I knew the Spider Webs were going to be time consuming so I started off with them.  I used the Die-namics Spider Web on vellum, going over it with Smooch Pearlized Top Coat, tucking Silver Cord under the web for the spider to dangle from, then adhering it with Zip Dry. I slightly distressed EP Chillingsworth Manor then added my Denami Design Ribbon (so sad they retired this ribbon, I used the whole spool on this project!), Twine, and Buttons.  I used a mini paper bag, folding the bottom up and adhering three sides so it will leave an opening at the top when folded, creating a "pocket".  Sentiment and Spider from Die-namics Spider Web and Stamp Set, Pumpkin Pie card stock, SU Square Punch, Smooch Tuxedo, Kiwi Pearl Pen.  I tied on a lil' spider web from Die-namics Halloween Charms to the pencil with SU Silver Cord.

  

As I was almost finished making the treat bags, I decided they needed a lil' card to go with them.  So, I made 31 cards...sigh.  I got the glitter foam cats (30 in a pkg) from the $1 store.  Inside the cards I added my Key Spouse "business" card and stamped Happy Halloween. 

The back of the treat bags.  The cards fit perfectly inside the little pocket.  Unfortunately I had already stamped my blog info (custom stamp from PSA Essentials) on the back of the bags before I decided to make the matching cards...ah well.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by Hurricane Sandy. 

It's amazing the damage one storm can cause.

Thank-you for stopping by. 



Please Join Us...

Retirement Invitations for a friend of mine.  She asked if I would make 60 for her.  This is what I came up with.

I started out running strips of MME American Made paper through my Cuttlebug with the Die-namics Hexagons from MFT...talk about time consuming!  I took each Hexagon and ran it through my Xyron Sticker Maker, which was also time consuming!  I stamped the sentiment, then used the SU Square Punch to make the banner.  I also ran both banner pieces through the Xyron Sticker Maker...you guessed it...time consuming!  I used Die-namics Stacking stars, Denami Design Buttons, SU Bakers Twine, SU Scallop Circle Punch, SU 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Riding Hood Red, White, and Night of Navy Papers.  My entry for TPE167 which is to create a card with a Chevron or Hexagon theme.  This is also my entry for RCC72 which is to use Buttons and Twine on your card.

All 60 of the cards=)

Thank-you for stopping by!

Have a great evening!

Happy Retirement MSgt Spruill...

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of attending one of my hubs co-workers retirement ceremony.  It was one of the most beautiful retirement ceremonies I have attended.  Their daughter Jasmine was there who is also in the Air Force and was apart of the ceremony.  When MSgt gave his closing speech he said he was passing off the family business to his daughter...brought tears to my eyes!  I will miss MSgt Spruill and his wife Sandy dearly!

This is the card I made for MSgt Spruill.  I used RCC53 for my layout, but I didn't get it linked to the challenge in time=(  I goofed and thought I had 5 days and 34 mins left until I could upload and well, I had 5 hours and 34 mins.  Ah well, lesson learned...create, blog, then be done=)  Anyhow...my card is pretty simple- I used the Air Force Emblem stamp I got from Marco Papers when I was in Ohio several years ago.  Night of Navy, Riding Hood Red, Neenah, My Minds Eye American Made paper, Nesties, and Denami Design Ribbon.



Thank-you for stopping by.

Have a great Memorial Weekend!!!

Pickles and Ice Cream...

Our friends recently found out they are expecting=)  I made them this card to congratulate them on their wonderful news!

I thought I'd give this weeks RCC49 a try.  The challenge is Color-a-licious.  To use those bright colors you might not usually choose. Well, the yellow ended up not the bright yellow I intended but turned to be the mustard yellow that's in the lines of my background paper.  I can honestly say these are colors I would not usually choose, lol.  This is also my entry for this weeks Bellariffic Friday Challenge which is a Sketch Challenge.  I started out stamping Pregapeep in Memento Ink on Neenah, coloring with Copics then shading with Prismacolor Pencils and OMS.  I used a Glaze Pen on the jar and ice cream container.  Sahara Sand, Lucky Limeade, EP Boys Mini Theme, and BG Origins paper.  SU Photo Corner Punch, CB Swiss Dot Folder, Denami Design Buttons and Jute Twine.

I'm looking forward to this weekend.  I'm taking another class from Terry Medaris.  He teaches Prismacolor Pencils, but with a different approach to blending.  This class will focus on people- their shadows, shading, and highlighting.  I'm so excited.  I really want to get back into using my pencils again, they've been pretty neglected.   

Thank-you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful weekend!!!
*ETA- due to the insanely amount of spam I've been getting on this one card, I've turned off the comments.

Stuck in Bed...

This is my first time playing along in one of The Ribbon Carosel Challenges.  I came across their blog from YNS blog, isn't it great how that works?!?!  This is my entry for RCC48 which is a sketch challenge YNS is sponsoring. 

I stamped Get Well Soon Fhiona in Memento Ink, on Neenah, coloring with Copics.  I wanted to give the bed and nightstand just a tad of color, almost like a "whitewash" feel though you can barely see in the photo that it has any color at all.  Ah well.  I used a Glaze Pen on the bed posts knobs, water pitcher, glass and her headband and a Glitter Pen on all the hearts.  Pool Party, Sahara Sand and My Minds Eye Miss Caroline Howdy Doody paper.  Pool Party Ribbon, SU Linen Thread, Denami Design Button.

Thank-you for stopping by.  Have a great day!