Encouraged to try again...

A lady called for my boss today.

In the past, we've shared news & pictures of our grand babies 

and she has bought Ema*line headbands.

She said she went to my blog again & loves the things I've made.

I told her with changes that had been made to blogspot, I couldn't get my pictures to post

& considered starting all over.  

She didn't want to see me lose the posts I've already made... & to try again.

Thanks, Sherry!

Hoping this works ~ mostly because I find it motivates me.

It's another way to be a little creative & share a few things I love to do.

I haven't had a lot of time to stamp lately, but here's a few cards I made recently.

Pretty Pink Tulips

A friend of our daughter knew she was having a boy

& more than a baby gift, she wanted one of my cards

Feathers of a bird...

Using Stampin' Up! punches, die cuts, embossing folders & ribbon,

I made this card for the friends who gave me rooster feathers.

The feathers have such a variety of color & I'm
Able to use them in "Ema*Line headbands, too!

Meanwhile...

I have pictures to post....as soon as the blog site lets me.  :)


Meanwhile, I'm reminding myself it is still January!
55* yesterday & snow today!

I'm back...

Posting...Card making...Headbands....

It has been awhile...for several things... for several reasons.

 

Here's a couple of headbands for orders I've received.

My desk & room are covered with supplies to keep making more!

Again, all the proceeds go towards therapy & medical expenses for

Emaline, our 3 yr. old granddaughter.

She had to get new braces for her legs & so far,

insurance is not covering the cost.

 

 

Adorable sisters in their headbands...

 

 

 



more Ema*line headbands....

...and a new little model!

                Isn't Miss Ruby gorgeous?!?

&

A few more...

Bordering on Romance

Here's my lastest stampin' project with my newest stamp set...

"Bordering on Romance"...available in the "Occasions Mini Catalog"

through April 30th.

I can see that I'll love using this stamp!

A little stampin' time...

I'd rather not need sympathy cards

but when I do, I make them with love for

the recipients.

"Thoughts and Prayers"

pg 160 in the current STAMPIN' UP! Idea Book & Catalog.

This tree is so pretty in its simplicity

& can be used for any occasion.

*  *  *

This set is one of my new favorites!

I love the flowers.

"Field Flowers" pg. 120

For both cards I used Big Shot embossing templates

& decorative paper punches.

Read about our little cover girl...

Click on the "Emaline's Update" tab!




...then click on the Emaline Headband tab to see more headbands!

Babycakes...

This is my newest "tool" or "accessory" for the kitchen.

Shortly after I started my job, I decided it would be nice to make birthday treats for those in the office.

 

...13 years later....

I'm still making treats for twice (at least)

the amount of office people.

 

I thought this babycake maker would add fun & a nice variety.

The night before I needed treats, I thought it would be a good idea to try it out first so I made these using a regular cornbread recipe.  They turned out great...in just 4 minutes!

====***====***====

These are the babycakes I made for Ed's birthday

using the chocolate cake recipe

that came with the babycake maker.

I need more practice on getting the frosting the right consistency

but they turned out good anyway.        

Here's a close up showing how I used

using coffee beans & glass marbles

as an anchor.



I love instrumental music...

We purchased Greg Howlett's CD "Seasonal Spice" for ourselves & for a gift! 

Beautiful instrumental piano...with a little sax, cello & violin. 

I'm sure I can listen to this CD long after the "Christmas season" is over.

You can check out his website here:

www.greghowlett.com

Craig's update December 2011...

My nephew Craig had to miss a few treatments because of the counts but he is looking good & strong  &  has been attending college this semester!

Here's an update...

From the Canape family...

"Hello Everyone! Craig has his last scheduled treatment today. (December 5th)  His counts were awesome and they proceeded with the chemo.  He has a scan scheduled for December 19th.  We are expecting amazing results.  He will have the port removed shortly after that as it will no longer be needed.  Thank you for all your continuing support! "

Thank you to all who have been praying for Craig and the family!!  <3

for my friend...

In the middle of my piles of headband makin' goodies,

I managed to make this card for my good friend!

It always feels so good to stamp...especially for a friend! 

Montana Leis...

...if you can't wear a Hawaiian Lei...wear a Montana Lei!

I was asked to sell my scarves at Jen's Gallery again this year!

The opening for the winter show was tonight...one scarf sold and another one ordered in a preferred color!  Good start & I sure hope it continues!

I like the title she gave me..."Textile Artist"...

Here I thought I was just a knitter.  Ü

It does have  more class than "Knitter" & better fitting for a gallery.

* * *

This is one of her window displays near her gallery.

Each one is tied with a ribbon, tagged with my logo

& a "to/from" card ready for gift giving.

Christmas card swap...

I couldn't believe it this week. 
Our mall has the Christmas garland up!  I think this is the earliest yet.

Too early...

             ...unless we have things to make for Christmas,
then now is a good time to start.

Here's what I made for a Christmas card swap.  I like the color combination...different from the usual red & green.  With knitting, other card making & making headbands every spare moment, I needed a rather quick card.

After thinking all day about different layouts,

this is what I made...even though it wasn't in my thoughts during the day.



A variation on step card

I love the dimension of step cards...fun to make!

Getting ready for a "Gathering"...

A friend of ours has been wanting to have a "Gathering" in her home to show & sell my "Ema*Line" headbands.   I'm almost ready!  Since keeping one blog current requires so much time & rather than starting a new blog or site for the headbands,  I learned..by lots of trial & error, how to make pages at the top of the blog to see just the headbands.  (Although I do love when you take a look at all my posts!)  So, hopefully, when you click on 'the Ema*Line tab', you'll be able to see what I have there.

The proceeds from selling the headbands will help pay for Ema's therapy & other medical expenses....I have really big dreams here!  : )

I'm almost finished with my brochure for them, too....again, lots of trial & errors but I'm so excited about it.

***   ***   ***

This is the headband my friend ordered from me...



Now....no more computer time!

Time to make headbands!!!

Stair step cards...

These cards take me quite a bit longer to make...mostly in deciding the combination of stamps I want to use.  I think the time is well spent!

Made for our (coffee lovin') daughter....

This beautiful paper (Stampin' Up!) is called MOCHA MORNING SPECIALTY...

with flocking on the black part of the design.

I added wire for the 'steam', pearls, and metal heart beads.

...thanks a latte!

I've been wanting to send several thank you cards to people

who have been extra thoughtful.

This is a card I gave to one person...who said she felt like she should send me a thank you card for the thank you card.

She also said the card was a gift.

When they are that touched & happy...so am I!

That's the reason I love spending the time

to specially design my cards.

 

The flowers were stamped separately, cut out and attached with Stampin' Dimensionals.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~

We have a generous family at church who shares the bounty from their garden.

This is for them...

The pumpkin is made from the small oval punch & the leaves

from the Bird Builder punch.

Lovin' the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch!

I still have another person to make a thank you card for.

stay tuned...

I love card orders....

I have a friend that orders cards from me every now & then.

She requested 4 sets of five cards.

Besides using cards I had on hand,

I made new cards specifically for her.

These are the new cards I made...

~~~     ~~~     ~~~

Her only specific request was to make one set of cards with bees...

I didn't want to just give my friend four stacks of five cards

so I made little

gift bags for each set along with a gift tag,

ready for her to give away as gifts.

She was as thrilled with them as I'd hoped!!!

S'more please!

I was gathering items to take camping...
thinking of roasting marshmallows
and came up with this term...


S'MORE-GASBORD


Too hot to stand over a fire or no fire available for s'mores? 

Make a S'moregasbord using Marshmallow Fluff
(Cost Plus World Market),

or marshmallow cream on Graham crackers.

Add a 'buffet' of toppings! Toffee bits, caramel bits,

chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter chips, etc.,
shredded coconut, nuts....

I made one last time we went camping
(using real roasted marshmallows)
and the Fluff for our family gathering on the 4th.

My favorite...
Fluff, Coconut & dark chocolate chips!

Craig's update

Craig has had his 3rd treatment

& has been feeling pretty good!!!

Pitt's Pizza in Laurel sponsored a team for Craig in the Relay for Life.

I'm not even sure how many were on the team

but there were many.

This was our first experience with Relay for Life &

it was very encouraging to see how many people participate.

Last year, Billings had the 9th largest event world wide!

Here's the front & back of our shirts...

 

 

Luminarias could be purchased to honor or in memory of a loved one or friend.

Both sides of the track were lined with them.

 

On the bleachers, they used luminarias to first spell out
HOPE then CURE.

It was even more special to walk in the dark with the

luminarias lighting the track.

Amy, Jenny & I walked for 8 hours...mostly non stop!

The time went by quickly so it didn't seem that long at all.

If we would have been more familiar with the event,

we would have planned to stay all night & watch the sun rise!

There were special features they do throughout

the night to help pass the time.

"Up" was shown on a big screen.

Next time!

We were able to honor Rick's Mom who passed away from cancer.

~~~~~   ~~~~~   ~~~~~

This is the first lap...the Survivor lap!
Craig is the tall one in the black hat &
beside him in the red hat is his
Grandpa Canape...a cancer survivor!






~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

Craig really wanted to see his cousin, Amy!

She flew in on the 4th of July & surprised Craig
& the rest of the family! 
Amy knew that Craig had been craving root beer since his surgery.
She walked in carrying some & went to Craig...
"Hear you've been wanting root beer!"

It was very, very good for all of us to have her home for a week.

Craig really doesn't care much for having his picture taken,

(I don't know why...as good looking as he is!)

but agreed to this & what a great picture it is!

So thankful he was feeling good!

***     ***     ***

Laurel celebrates the 4th of July in style!

Approximately thirty thousand people come

to our town to watch our fireworks
presented by the Laurel Volunteer Firemen.

They do a superior job!

Dynamic Design, a store in Laurel,
decided to sell 1,000 helium balloons

that would be released at the park before the fireworks.

These balloons were in honor of & to benefit Craig.

All the balloons were sold...many people

gave much more than the $1.00 they were selling for.

One man from out of town,

went to the booth saying his name was Craig, too,

& wondered what was going on. 

He also has had cancer & was glad to donate.

Seeing the balloons being released all at the same time
was SO emotional!!

...I can hardly write about it!

It just sinks in again that it is real.

The Canape family is so blessed with many

friends & a town that has really shown support!

We're so blessed to see God provide for them in many ways.

Thank you for keeping Craig in your prayers!