Thanks for the 2022 Love

 Hello friends,

It's been a long time and we are almost at the end of 2022.  You have been a blessing in following my blog and seeing the projects I made.  As we come to the close of the year, I want to say thank you and I want to also wish you one of the merriest Christmas a lovely person like you can have.  If it is in the will of God we shall continue to interact with one another in 2023.  Before closing out, here are cards I've worked on for your eyes to see:

I added this one to https://www.splitcoaststamper.com

I'm adding this one on https://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

Love you,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Lois

"My Projects To Share

 Hello friends,

October is almost over.  You may or may not have that costume ready for this weekend.  So many places will be opened for you to show off your twin self or who you would love to be.  Just be careful.  People are so mean these days towards adults as well as children.  Either the enemy will conduct a mass shooting or use candy to import drugs in candy.  Two more months in the year to witness, read about, or see on the TV how crazy some people have become.  

On the positive side, here are projects you can duplicate or just enjoy:

This is the card I made for the Splitcoaststampers card sketch for 10-26-2022.  SC929 using cardstock, Tim Holtz Christmas sleigh, the word "believe" and a die-cut circle representing the moon.  I put white pops of color drops for the falling snow.

This is a stamp from Visible Image used with blue and pink distress oxide inks.  A few paper flowers were added to make the image fuller.

Women with a message are the best way to get some encouragement across to others.  Again, Tim Holtz's embossing folders were used on both corners to enhance the image (crochet lace and cobblestone)

Who doesn't challenge themselves with a fancy fold card every now and then?  Since making Christmas cards is back on my list, I used a fancy fold pattern to highlight some Christmas cardstock.  This card will be added to https://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

Thank you for viewing and have a safe Halloween.

Until the next time,

Love,

Lois

"Praying For The Floridians and Card Share"

 Hello friends, family, followers, and viewers.  Many of you have seen the news.  Some of us are watching closely at the news to get updates on hurricane "Ian".  We may watch due to people we know who live in Florida or to keep up with what is happening.  I personally have family in Florida, especially in Tampa.  When it was first reported that a hurricane was headed in this direction, I didn't panic but started praying.  My daughter is in Tampa and with a hurricane category of five, it doesn't sound good.  I've been in contact with her and encouraged her to go to a shelter.  No one wants to stay in the path of this storm.  Please pray for all the Floridians.  Some are trying to leave and some want to be heroes. 

I am sharing a month of projects that I've completed.  We only have two more days in September before moving on to October.  My last share was in August.  I hope you enjoy and find some inspiration in my card making:

Some were made for Splitcoaststamper's sketch challenge and others to be shared on https://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

Enjoy the remainder of September and get ready for breast cancer month.  

Have a blessed day and thanks for viewing.

Love,

Lois

"More Christmas in July Cardmaking"

 Happy Wednesday friends, followers, and viewers.  Are you hot, hot, hot?  Our temps are climbing day by day toward the high 90s.  It's okay if you're working inside but the humidity in your face and on your body doesn't feel great.

Christmas in July is continuing with cardmakers and card companies.  Have you ordered from any of the companies during this month?  I've used my 2021 dies, paper, and ephemera to create more cards for your enjoyment and inspiration:

This is a beach scene card for sketch SC915 @Splitcoaststampers for 7/20/2022.  I've used paper from 49&Market; Stamperia and ephemera from Crafters Square.

The card I submitted today on Instagram.  All of the other cards have been previously posted on Instagram as well.  This particular card will be posted on https://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com today.

A little booklet in the making that will have Christmas theme pages.

July birthday card.

Plaid paper with foil is very nice for a Christmas themed card.

A very tiny bit of mixed media going on

Let's celebrate him, him and him during the holiday.

Here is plaid again without the foil.

Pass  on an encouraging word or note to someone.

Look at that cardstock! When the light shines on it, you are able to see all the pretty colors,

You would be surprised to know that some adults still wait for Santa (hahaha).

Stepper card.  It has been some time making one of these.

Find some inspiration from these cards and have a happy crafting day.

Love,

Lois

"Getting Ready For "Christmas in July" plus shares from June"

 Happy Wednesday, July 6, 2022.  How is everyone?  Are you enjoying the weather in your neighborhood?  In Virginia, it is hot and humid.  You are subject to getting a sun tan just by standing or walking in your yard.  

Do you make projects for the "Christmas in July" series?  I've been participating for a number of years.  It does save you from having to rush to make cards in November and the early part of December.  Trust me, if you can get a card done each weekday during the month of July it will add up to at least twenty cards that you can file and use after Thanksgiving.

Here are my card shares from my last posting up until today:

An entry for @Splitcoaststampers for sketch SC913.

It is summer and I did this for the beach.

Using inspiration from Youtube, I made this folded card.

This is another inspiration from Youtube (the design only).

Have you been surprised when you ramble through your supplies?  I use to do a "what's on my desk" card on Fridays.  I would use scraps that were left on my desk during the week for inspiration.  This was a surprise when I was looking through some of my stashes and came across this lovely vellum piece.  It made a fantastic focal point for this card.

When you cut out a die and it leaves a beautiful cut...what do you do with the piece of cardstock?  I placed it on top of a piece of black cardstock to make a focal point on this beauty.

I have/had so many corrugated boxes to get rid of.  Wait, why not use a piece for card making.

Now, this is really "use what you have on your desk".

The beach is on my mind.

Inspiration again from Youtube.

Using stickers from the Dollar Tree.

More beach ideas.

I am going to add this Fourth of July card to https://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

My granddaughter got me interested in making jewelry.  She started with bracelets (my inspiration).  I went a little further than bracelets and started making the necklace to go with the bracelet.  I'm a novice so don't judge harshly. 

Thank you for viewing and I hope one of these cards inspires you.

Love ,

Lois

"Are Fathers Better Than Moms?"

 Hello friends, followers, family, and visitors.

I have a very important question for you to think about and answer today..." are fathers better than moms?"  Personally, I can't answer this question due to life experiences.  When I was about five and a half, almost six years old, my father passed away due to what is happening in our world today (gun violence).  He was an innocent bystander.  I grew up not having the hugs or advice from a man.  Yes, my grandfather was around at the time of my father's death but it wasn't long before he transitioned due to old age.  As a matter of fact, my grandfather apparently didn't have time to spend with little girls due to his farming.  The only thing he said or did for me was to teach me about his cotton and peanuts as well as his orchards (peach, plum, apple, grapes, and pear).   Did I write teach...I meant to write he showed me those things and said this is how he made his money to keep him and my grandmother living a "good" life.

I'm married with two grown daughters.  Over the years, I've watched my husband in the role of a father to my girls. When they were very young, he did the fatherly thing to keep them loved, fed, and protected.  When they became school-aged little girls, he backed away as if the situation changed and I was the teacher to everything else they were supposed to learn.  It appeared that I was responsible for their education and life learning skills.  My daughters were taught how to drive not by their father but by taking driver's education in high school.  He did teach the oldest one how to drive a "stick shift Volkswagon beetle" when she came home from college on summer break one year.  Since she was the oldest and went to live on her own, he taught her how to maintain her vehicle. (She still does this today regardless of the boyfriends and ex-husband that she had).  He relishes the title "father/dad" but he stands back and watches their independent growth.  I can't say he is better than me because a day may come when I'm not around and my girls will have to rely on his strength to keep them going.

Here are my shares for this week: 

I finish this one today using Mintay paper and a die for the flamingoes.

This is a card made using the Splitcoaststampers sketch SC910.  Tattered Lace paper was used along with Prima flowers.  

This little beauty was made with Tattered Lace paper, Prima flowers, the "hello" die, and the window die from Aliexpress.  I will submit this one to https://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

Someone is always having a birthday.  I jazzed up this with some of the lace I don't seem to use that often.  Since this will be going to a young lady, I think she will enjoy its beauty.

I received this die and embossing folder from Tattered Lace.  So many graduations are going on so I made this card for a recipient.

This is another birthday card for another recipient during the month of June.

I hope you've enjoyed this commentary along with my card shares for today.  If you're inspired, use what you can with what you've got.

Sending love,

Lois