Oh Baby it's cold outide!

I am not complaining. I know my family and friends in other parts of these great United States are having REALLY bad weather, but for me here in Arizona in the middle of the desert, this is a first. It is really cold. As you can see the water in my bird bath is frozen and the back yard table had 1/4 inch of frozen frost on it this morning. I only know this because I went out in the wee hours to see if there was snow on my mountian. At least once a winter the Superstitions do have snow capped peaks but this morning, it was not to be. It is something I look forward to seeing every year. Maybe tomorrow!

Artichokes!!!

Where do I begin about artichokes? A family favorite that I usually make for Thanksgiving but made them for Christmas this year. I am so pleased that I didn't make them for Thanksgiving because my 14 Year old grandson JP LOVES them, and he wasn't with us for Thanksgiving. SO this was a complete surprise to me. I had no earthly idea that JP loved my stuffed artichokes so much until his step mother Anne sent me a paper he had written for school.Of course it made me weep. Funny how you never really know what an effect something you do has on another person. SO here is JP's paper:
Jonathan Pitts
My favorite food
My favorite food would have to be my Nan’s stuffing artichokes. They are the best and she makes them every Thanks Giving.
She makes it the best. She usually pulls it out of the oven when were about to eat. It smells like heaven. When you get it, it’s steaming and when u peel a pointy leaf of the artichoke stuffing comes off with it too and u just get a mouth full of warm stuffing and artichoke.
The artichokes are just like a transportation tool but they do add flavor. The stuffing melts in your mouth, but every year it gets better and better. Everyone says the same thing every time they eat it all at the same time because it’s the first thing every one eats. “Yumm” they all say.
This is my favorite food and I look forward to this holiday every year and it is all ways the best thing cooked and “you could die for it” as I say.

The first photo is of JP eating his artichoke. Isn't he sweet? Too cute for words but what else would a Nanny say about her grandson? The second photo is of my daughter Tracy, my youngest son Ian, his wife Anne and my son Shane in the background. The third photo is my daughter Tracy, my son Ian and his wife Anne. The fourth photo is my son Shane and my oldest grandson Ryan. The fifth photo is my son Jason, my DIL Anne, my grandson Ryan, and my son Shane. When the artichokes are served as THE appetizer, it is somewhat like a ritual. There isn't a sound to be heard except for the UMMS and YUMS that JP mentioned.I have to make about 20 artichokes for our family and it is not easy.It takes hours to prepare them all and many more hours to finally cook them. Every year under my breathe, I say a few nasty words and say to myself; "I wish I never started making these **** things!" But when I see the enjoyment on every one's faces it makes it all worthwhile.

Shirley Ross spoils me

She sent me this lovely sample of the watercolor resist technique from the December-January issue of Technique Junkie newsletter. Shirley was a guest designer for this issue and did a fabulous job. Thanks once again Shirley for thinking of me. I will never tire of receiving your creations.If you haven't been to Shirley's' blog yet, you should take the time to visit. You won't be disappointed. Her blog is:
Card Art,Etc.

It's Official!

The deposits are paid and we will be cruising with Tim Holtz in October 2009. When I say we, I mean my dear friend Chris from Down Under and myself of course.We are going first class in a balcony cabin, WHOOO HOOO! If you have followed my blog, you know I went on Tim's cruise to Alaska this past May. It was great fun and it was cold! A balcony cabin would have gone to waste on that cruise. But in Mexico, it will be perfect.I can hardly wait!

Christmas card from my TJ friend Shirley Ross

It is always lovely to receive a handmade card but when the return address is Shirley Ross' you know it's going to be special.I am continually in awe of Shirley's eye for detail and how precise she is with whatever medium she chooses to use.Thank you for thinking of me Shirley at this most busy time of year.

Did you know???

I have this crazy fixation on pears? I don't know when it started but it seems ever since I started stamping (a very long time ago) I have had a thing about pears. I know I am not alone as I have several friends that are the same quirky way about pears. So it shouldn't be any surprise that when I saw the Cricut cartridge Joys of the Season and noticed it had a pear in it, I HAD to get it.Well it's so cool as you can do so much with it as you can see on the card. The card face has the pear cut out in the middle, and the tag has the pear cut out also.I made this card for a friend in Australia and yes, you guessed it, she loves pears too.

Pearl Crazy!

This CB embossing folder just cried out BLING! So out came the pearls and I went pearl crazy. ENJOY!

Oh! What a Beautiful Morning!!!!

I went flying this morning with my youngest son Ian at the controls. What a fabulous time I had and how happy I was to be flying with my son. He has had his private pilots license for several years now and has had the plane for a few years. It is an awesome feeling for a mother when a child lives his dreams. It made the ride so meaningful. Thanks son. I can't wait to do it again soon!
We flew all around the East Valley but most importantly..."my mountain." I am struck every day by the shear beauty of the Superstition Mountains which are in my back yard.We also flew over my house which is in the photo off the wing. I had to get a quick photo of Four Peaks which is the mountain off in the distance. It was a beautiful morning and it will always be one of my fondest memories..

Simple little Shaker card

I passed my jar of snow this morning and it cried out "shaker card"; so here it is. I used the CB EF Snowflakes and the circle nestabilities. Fast, fun and easy!

Boomerang November Sketch Challenge

This was a fun challenge for my Australian group. They have a sketch challenge every month and the winner is randomly drawn and receives all of the cards.

Another circle punch card

It has finally started to cool off here in Arizona. With the temperature in the 70's, I was compelled to make a fall card and here it is. Although the cacti never change color, LOL! It feels like fall anyway.

It won't be long now!

With Chistmas just around the corner, I made this card to motivate myself to get going on my Christmas cards for this year. There is a tutorial for this cut out circle using a paper punch and Nestabilities here:

http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/circle-frame-tutorial/

Give it a try, it's easier than it appears.

Grandchild # 12

Luke weighed in at a whopping 9lb 10oz! My son Shane and DIL Heather's fourth child.He is so beautiful and I love him so much already.I now have 9 grandsons and 3 granddaughters. The more the merrier.

Thank You Shirley Ross

My friend and fellow Technique Junkie Shirley Ross sent me this fabulous card some time ago. I just unearthed it today while cleaning up my craft room. Shirley has such an eye for detail as you can see from this card. What you might not be able to see is the detail on the cupcakes. Shirley has used Glossy Accents and Liquid Embroidery as well as some gems and tiny crystals (I think.) I wish you could see it in real life, it's awesome! To see more of Shirleys art please go to her blog Card Art, Etc http://www.cardartetc.blogspot.com/

Thanks Shirley!

Christmas Double Slider Card

This will be the last of the double slider cards which have been quite fun to make. This card features Christmas stamps from Hearts in Touch. Please visit Hearts in Touch at www.heartsintouch.com and tell Frances that Jackie sent you.

Double Slider cards

I have never been good at construction cards but I had a challenge from one of my groups. These are fun and easy. I found the technique on Splitcoast Stampers.

My last stained glass spray paint card

I love this pear from Innovative Stamp Creations. Again I used the reverse masking technique. Time to put these paints away and move on.

Back to the Krylon Stained Glass spray paint

I used reverse masking to make the moon and sprayed it with yellow. When dry, I used the circle to cover the moon and sprayed with blue and purple. Eclipse Tape is the best product to use for this and any other masking technique.I enhanced the moon with Adirondak terra cotta and a cosmetic sponge.

Free Standing Pop Up Cards

I found this tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. It's a fun and easy technique even for me as I have always struggled with construction cards of any type. These cards lay flat for mailing which is really cool.

Gotta love Stained Glass spray paint by Krylon

I just love this paint for backgrounds. It is fast drying and so vibrant! Get some for yourself and give it a try. They have a fairly good assortment of colors to choose from and thankfully they have all of my favorites. It works best on glossy paper. ENJOY!

Happy Halloween

I made this card for my 3 beautiful grandchildren . They are from left to right; Nate, Grace and Jesse.They LOVE Halloween. This year Nate is going to be Batman, Grace will be Tinkerbell and Jesse will be Iron Man. What fun they will have!

Vada's Gesso Resist Technique from Technique Junkies

I have finally tried this technique from 2006. What fun it is! The technique calls for Walnut Tintz but I don't have those so I used Distress inks and sponged them on randomly. They worked just fine.I am on a roll with this technique and have several aside drying. But maybe it's time to move on to something different, LOL!

Embossed Vellum

I just adore the Bird of Paradise flower. I think it is my most favorite tropical plant and you can even grow them in Arizona! This stamp is from Local King Rubber.

New technique from Technique Junkie

The technique is called Punched Through. Essentially, you punch a card front and place ribbon inside of the punched out area. I didn't have any punches that I liked for this technique, so I used stencils. Worked out well. I especially like the lace in the bird's wings and tail.I may just use this idea for my Christmas cards.

I was a guest designer for Technique Junkies!!!!

I was very honored when Pat asked me to be a guest designer for the 2008 October-November issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. I was given an assignment and these are the cards I made. I used the Camouflage Technique for the first two. I used stamps from Paper Inspirations, and from The Stampin Place.
The next card uses the Geometric Overlay technique. This was a fun card to make as I adore working with acetate. The focal stamp is from Rubber Stampede.
The next two photos show the Gift Card technique. I can see myself making many of these for Christmas gifts this year. The verse inside is from After Midnight Art Stamps.