I love family pictures

I love family pictures because they represent our family history.  This picture is probably 20 years old and the changes in the family dynamics is amazing.  Those little children are grown adults and some adults have gone home to be with the Lord.  Each face represents an untold  story. 

These are my parents and their children and their children's children and their spouses and one aunt and a cousin. 

 There is just something about this picture that makes it precious. 

Ode to the Mustang

You tossed my hair

and made me fly

but the budget got smaller

as time passed by.

I'll miss the way you sped along

"Ode to the Mustang";

it's a very short song.

The Re-purposed Garden

I spent the last few days doing some gardening and we wanted to be very low budget. I made a garden using the rocks we have around the property, and there is plenty of them. We wanted to experiment our first summer here with a small garden to see what will grow, what won't and what could possibly eat our vegetables

This is the old kennel fence we had in Virginia when Jackson's mother had puppies.  I assembled the kennel fences and bought a Garden Gate from Lowe's.  We had chrome kennel fence and a black garden gate, so I spray painted it purple.  Somehow it makes me think of those purple street lights at Disney in Orlando.  We are good to go.

.The old wash bucket is great for planting pansies and herbs.

Using Public Domain Images

Using this image I got from a public domain image library makes a simple yet fun card.  I just embossed the Thinking of You, added a couple of emplishments, punched the corners and wallah!

Simple Stationary

This simple stationary is easy to make and leaves lots of room for writing notes or just a thought.  The stamp is Just A Note and leaves the door open to say whatever is on your heart.  I punched the corners and stamped the corner  envelope and inside the top of the inside.  Simple yet functional!

For Erika

http://polleycrafts.blogspot.com/

Operation Write Home is having a blog hop and I stumbled across a lovely lady named Erika whose husband is being deployed over seas for the third time.  For every comment left on her blog, she is making a card for Operation Write Home...I told her she didn't have to make one for me, that  I would make one for her and send it to OWH. 

I had made this card once before but couldn't resist again when someone gave me that cute little shoe card...

There are some wonderful wives who are making OWH it really touches my heart.

Little Girl's Birthday Apron

Maddie had a Number 2 birthday party on Saturday and I really wanted to make her an apron. There was no pattern, so I went on line and found a site where you make an apron pattern from a cut-out newspaper. Works for me. I used three different patters after studying the apron my daughter in law had made for me.

The pattern is easy to cut.

The fabric embellishments are three different strips sewn together with each one being a little longer than the next. The three-sewn together strips are now one and easily sewn in between the button tw0-folds. The necktie is sewn in between the two fabric folds and the belt is sewn over the top of the apron button and top.

The cupcake pattern was so fun and just the right fabric for a little girls birthday celebration.

Shadowbox Photo Composition

One of the Christmas gifts that I made and couldn't post before Christmas is this shadowbox photo composition. It was a lot of fun to make. J&K went to Paris on their honeymoon and this picture of them in front of the Eiffel Tower is great.

I stamped the inside frame with a Stamping Up French writing stamp (of which I have no clue what it says but am sure one of the words is amore). I found the basket, tree, and bench with the love birds at Hobby Lobby. I couldn't believe it when I found the photographer figurine and the basket with the French bread which tied the theme in place. I made a faux cobblestone street for the inside bottom and the rest is history.

Printable Paper Dolls

I love paper dolls! My mother would save the Betsy McCall paper doll page from McCall's magazine and put them in the "rainy day" box.

I found this website which has printable paper dolls that are public domain. As soon as I get some ink cartridges, I am going to print some and put them in my own "rainy day" box.

http://karenswhimsy.com/paper-dolls.shtm

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We are just waiting for one more delivery and will be 100 percent moved! Can't wait to get back to "normal". Have a blessed Christmas Day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to take a few moments to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. There is a lot to be thankful for this year. My husband hand I have finally purchased a home and will be moving to New Hampshire in a few weeks. The home is wonderful and when we get settled, I will be able to get back to some serious card making. I really miss making cards for Operation Write Home and keeping my stash ahead for all those special events which come up.

I am thankful that God gave us the grace (and patience) to sell our home, look for a home, find the perfect home and box, pack, move and unbox, pack and remove again.

This is just one of many things...but right now, its our biggest thanks.

Card Obsession

When I first started making cards it was an obession gone wild!! Here is a sample of some of the cards made during the initial romance!!!

My 1'st Christmas Card

Christmas and Variety Cards for Heroes

http://cardsforheroes.org

Somehow my computer ate my last post so I am re-posting these cards made for Cards for Heroes. It really is a privilege to do such a small task for our great men and women in the Military. Have a happy labor less Labor Day Weekend!

Bird Stamp Winner

Contratulations to Judy http://passion4cards.blogspot.com/ , she won the Bird Stamp!

She deserves a little good news because her precious grandson is in the hospital recovering from pneumonia complications. Why don't you visit her website and leave her a note of good cheer?Thanks to all who participated and I am sure there will be more goodies posted soon.

Stamp Give Away 4000th Visitor Celebration

In celebration of my 4000'th visitor, I am giving away this Martha Stewart Bird Stamp set. It is my way of celebrating you. I will pick a winner on August 30'th which has no significance whatsoever.

All you have to do to win is leave your comment and on 8/30, I will let Mr. Fred randomly pick a name on that date.

Cards for Heros

I have been making cards to send to Cards for Heroes and thought I would share one of them with you. If you have extra cards hidden in your stash, you might want to check out Cards For Heroes. You send them the cards and they send them to the PX's so our soldiers can send them back to family and friends.

It's a great way to purge your stash and help those who help us.

Children's Candy Bag-Home Coming Sunday

This past Sunday was Home Coming Sunday at our church. It was a wonderful service and was followed by a pot-luck luncheon. I didn't want to make the usual brownies or three-bean salad but decided to make candy bags for the children. I had the stamp, the paper and the bags...all that was needed was the candy which was purchased at K-Mart because they have a great assortment. I stamped a cardboard box because we are notorious for forgetting to bring home the baking dish or the serving spoon.

I chose Mark 10:14 as the scripture for the bags and everyone seemed to enjoy them. Especially the "big" kids.

Home Made Calendar

Make a Smilebox calendar

This is what I have been doing for the past few weeks. I made these for the daughters of the woman whose home we are renting (she passed away last August). It was fun to do but I calculated the cost of printing at home or sending to Office Max to be printed and bound and chose Office Max. I also made a couple of cards this week end and will be posting them soon. Happy Sunday to all!

I Miss Winter!

It's been 95 degrees for at least two weeks now. I have a new computer which is fantastic, but my program discs for the camera and printer are somewhere in the moving van way behind some very heavy boxes. I've been digging in there but 95 degrees in a square metal box on wheels is not the ideal place to be digging. Maybe this week.

Until then, we will keep trying.

Thank a Soldier Card -- Flag Day 6/14

Monday is Flag Day a little remembered day but I remember it because its my sister's birthday. I'ts always good to thank a soldier for protecting our nation. If you don't know a soldier you can go to your local post office and they post a list of local men and women who are serving our country and would like some correspondence items for the PX.

I made this card and will goto the post office and thank a soldier.

Blog Candy Winners!

Congratulations to the four lovely ladies who will be getting a Hampton Art Stamp. Just send me your address and it will be mailed out to you. You can e-mail me at Ponie9@comcast.net for privacy.

New York Stamp: Cre8tive Crafter

London Stamp: Sondrina

Paris Stamp: Agus

Rome: KapnCon

I think it really happened...Vacation!

My husband and I just returned from a 10-day trip to Florida.  We stayed two nights at Amelia Island and you can still park the truck on the beach.  Now we are back to sign the closing papers on our house and move into the rental home while we look for a permanent home.  I'm pretty sure we went away but after two minutes home, we remembered all the things we still have to do.  It was great but ....back to reality.

Free Blog Candy! Hampton Art Stamps Give-away

Paris Diva (Red)

New York Diva (blue)

London Diva (Yellow)

Rome Diva (black)

These stamps  are by Hampton Art.   I couldn't resit them when I saw them.

To win one of these stamps,  all you have to do is):

 1. post a link on your website back to mine:  http://thepaperhandmaiden.blogspot.com

 and

 2.)  leave  a comment and vote for your favorite stamp.   (If you don't have a website, just leave your first name and your email address). 

There will be four winners, one from each stamp voted for.

These stamps measure 3  1/2inches  x 5 inches and are brand new from Hampton Art Stamps.  

Because we are in the middle of moving and 10 days in Florida, the Giveaway will be June 1st and four winners will be drawn from the final number of entries.*

*(I am not creating a blog list, this is for my own sharing pleasure and to  meet and greet stamping friends.).

Cast your vote for:

1. London Diva (yellow outfit)

2. Paris Diva (red outfit)

3. Rome Diva (black outfit)

4. New York Diva (blue outfit)