New Blog Home

Hey all my friend and followers. I have been absent for quite a while, but I have combined all my blogs into one and I will be posting 2-3 times a week on my new blog. It is named Dixieland Blessings and you can get to it here:
http://dixielandblessings.blogspot.com I have been trying to keep all my craft blogs seperate for the people that like that craft only, but art is art whether it be sewing, paper crafting, pottery or whatever. I found myself not writing to any because I was tired of swapping back and forth. I hope you will join me in the future as I take on new projects. Come visit and leave a comment so I know you have been there. Take care. Be healthy, happy, safe. Smile 'til your face hurts and always hug those you love. God bless ya'll!!

She Smiles!!

"Strength and dignity are her clothes and she smiles at the future" Proverbs 31:13

She smiles!!!! It has been a long hard road for my baby girl, but she accomplished her goal and opened new doors in her life. I have very seldom seen her smile over the past two years while in nursing school, but that has changed. I have heard nothing but laughter and giggles since the phone call I received the other day saying school is over, I passed, and I am out!!!!!! Last night was the pinning ceremony and today is graduation. Her teachers had such sweet things to say about her. I felt so proud!!!! She has a job with our local hospital working on the cardiac floor. She takes her review for state boards next week and then her certification test. She set high standards for herself, and her face shows that she has accomplished these. The guy with her is her long time boyfriend. They have been together most of the past 7 years. The future holds many exciting things for these two, and I expect to see many smiles in the future. Be healthy, happy, safe. Hug the ones you love, and may God bless ya'll---He sure has us!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny how God works!

It is funny how God works. I have been struggling with lots of trials lately, and have been asking God for a little more help than normal. I made a vow at the first of the year that I was going to get more involved in my church, and I have. Little did I know that He would use me as a voice for Him. I have been seeing this lady at church who has just started working at the hospital where I work. She always speaks to me, by my first name and I speak back, but I am sad to say I did not know her name. I even struggled last week in the hall when she introduced me to her husband at church, and I was very thankful that my husband was down the hall talking because I would not have known how to introduce her to him without asking her name, and I felt this would be awkward. Anyway, I saw her at work Wednesday, and she told me she and her husband had decided to join our church. I was hugging her and telling her how proud I was and she told me that her husband had wanted to join for a while, but she was nervous about going down front and standing in front of all those strangers. She said she just did not know if she could do it. I immediately told her I would walk with her if she wanted me to, and her face just went from sad and scared to happy and joyous. As we talked some more she told me that she really had not known if they would fit in our church. I still am not sure what that feeling is about, but I feel like she just needed someone to accept her and make her feel welcome. We have a very large church and a wonderful pastor, but we, as all churches do, have some who hold themselves on a higher ground than others and I feel that she was being intimidated by these. Anyway, after a long conversation of when I could walk with her--we are out of town this weekend and there is another conflict the next week--I feel like she feels she can do it alone now. I found out her name immediately after our conversation, and I made this card for her. The scripture is Phillippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". I am attatching it to a small gift I got her and am taking it to her tomorrow. I wrote a little encouragement in it. I feel like God used me to witness to her to not be afraid. I also learned that if someone takes the time to know who you are then you better take the time to learn who they are. I know that my heart is better for this experience and my spirit is rejuvenated.

The cardstock is Brazzill and the designer paper is from Pebbles Inc. It is the "So Tweet Collection". The stamp and cross are from Papertrey Ink. The buttons are from Doodlebugs. I hope ya'll are having a blessed day. We are going out of town tomorrow for a soccer tourniment and will be gone all weekend. Stay safe, be happy and healthy, hug the ones you love and may God Bless Ya'll!!!!

HELLO!!!!!!!!!

I am not lost. I have returned. My life has taken a roller coaster ride lately, but things are calming. Free time seems to be something I do not have much of these days, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I decreased my time at work, thinking I would have more time to be creative and play, only to find that everyone I know has something they have been wanting me to do. I will be posting soem projects this weekend, but not finished yet. I decided to post today, because of this great blog candy I saw this morning while blog hopping. The site is
http://www.zhibit.org/elisabethbell/blog/super-scrummy-blog-candy-give-away It is awesome what she is offering. Please go look. I will be back later today with some news and pics. Ya'll take care. Be safe, healthy, happy and as always-----May GOD bless ya'll!!!

Cupcake Gift Tags

I found a little time to play today, and this is what I came up with. These are gift tags. On the back, I stamped a sentiment by Unity Stamps that says "have a sweet day". I used chocolate ink from CTMH to stamp the images and sentiment. The cardstock is Brazill and the designer paper is from ki memories. It is the Bloom Collection-Canopy. The ribbon is from Stampin Up and I used my scalloped punches. They are a happy thing and I can just see them hanging on a package with bright colors and tissue paper.

Everyone made it home safely yesterday. Last to arrive was Carre about 4:30. She and her friend stopped in Millington, TN and got her friend a new puppy. It is a female Westie (West Highland Terrior-I think) and her name is Gypsy. I cannot wait to see her. The hunters did not have any luck. Jack made it in from New Orleans in time to see the 2nd half of the Ole Miss game. What about those Rebels? I went to Mississippi State and my children have split the colleges. One went to State and the other to Ole Miss. There was a time when I could not have thought about yelling for them, but I have mellowed and I can thank my kids for that. The other person that made it home yesterday was Logan, one of my friends grandbabies. Hopefully with continued prayers Landon will be home in a few weeks. I spent a little while yesterday rocking. He is so sweet and loves to lay on his stomach and cuddle on your shoulder. I thank God everyday that these boys have progressed this far so fast.

Well I guess I better cook supper and get these boys fed. Simon has spend the night company and I decided to fry some fish I had in the freezer. Ya'll take care, be healthy, happy, and safe. See ya tomorrow. God bless ya'll.

Happy New Year!!!

I wish for everyone a blessed, healthy, happy new year. I plan to be more creative. My goals are to make at least one card a week, and to spend more time at home instead of work. I am tired!!! I also have started sewing again, and plan on taking a quilting class in late January. I also am going to keep my other blog updated weekly or more as well. Life is to short to waste time. Enjoy every minute. The above card is my new motto for 2009--Go for long walks, indulge in hot baths, question your assumptions, be kind to yourself, live for the moment, LOOSEN UP ( my kids will love this one), scream, curse the world ( only if it really needs it), count your blessings (daily), just let go, just be!! Try it folks, you might like it too.

Update on the babies--Logan is coming home tomorrow. Yea! Yea! Yea! Landon is planned to come home in two weeks. He will have to come home on oxygen though, but that is minor to where they have been. I appreciate all the prayers that ya'll have given for these two. God is great and he has blessed my friend and her family with these beautiful babies.

Ya'll take care now. My family is really spread out this holiday. Me and little buddie (Simon) are home, Carre is in Gatlinburg with friends welcoming in the new year--they called me at 2 am to tell me Happy New Year and they were in for the night. God bless youth!! Doss is up a tree somewhere hunting, I will see him later in the day, Daddy is also hunting, but he also will be home this afternoon, and Jack (hubby) is in New Orleans working. Have a blessed day, hug your loved ones, and stay warm( it is even cold here!!). God bless ya'll!!!!!!

Oh, almost forgot. Saw this while blog hopping this am--2009 is the year of the cupcake!! Cupcakes are happy and I think I will also follow this. Have you ever seen a cupcake that did not make you smile?? Take care!!

My Pink Christmas Tree

HEY YALL!!!! Wow time flies when you are insanely busy. It has been a while since I wrote anything so let me update you and you will see why. Family is great. Daughter just finished her 3rd semester of nursing school {doing really good, keep praying for her, please}, oldest son doing great with his job, and little buddy just being little buddy--the greatest little kid I know. Hubby has not been working as much as usual--always slow this time of year, but slower than normal this year. Being that his work is slow means he is home. He usually works on the road 4-5 days a week, and home on the weekends, well he has been home about 6 weeks. This has been quite an adjustment. Less stamping and creating---more cooking, cleaning, and washing. Life is good though and I hope all of you are the same.

Last post I wrote about my friends grandbabies, well Landon and Logan entered the world at 29 weeks. They are in the NICU in Jackson { which is about 1 1/2 hours from here} but doing great. Landon weighed 2 lbs 5 oz. and Logan weighed 3 lbs. 5 oz. They were born here in our hometown. I was at a soccer tournament with my phone on silent--you have to know me to know I never do this--when it all went down. I had 5 missed calls and numerous missed texts when I realized my phone was off. I finally got my daughter on the phone and went to the hospital. They were already born, but I got to see them before the ambulance arrived to take them to Jackson. Dawn {the actual granny} and I got to take Mary Beth {the mommy} to the hospital 5 days after they were born to see, touch, and spend time with her babies for the first time. It was awesome!!!! She was not supposed to travel yet, but seeing that her mother and I are both long time nurses we talked theOB doc into letting us take her. Great Day folks!! You just should have been there. As of yesterday, Landon weighs 4 lbs. 7 oz. and Logan weighs 6 lb. 3 oz. Keep praying for them. I do not think they will make it home by Christmas, but you never know. Miracles happen everyday. Now with all that said, I did have time to decorate my PINK Christmas tree that I have in my office at home. I even made a lot of the ornaments with my cardstock and designer paper. I will take a close up pic and post on another day. I also have been sewing a lot. Making Christmas presents and smocking for the babies. I started a new sewing blog, but I have only made 2 entries. If you would like to visit the address is http://sewblessed3.blogspot.com/ . My fingers are tired. I have not been use to all this typing. Going to Jackson tomorrow to wrap up my shopping and to see the babies. Plan on starting to cook this weekend. Yall don't give up on me now. I am fixing to get back in the swing of things and start writing and showing my creations on a regular basis. Be safe, healthy, loved and God bless yall!!

We're Fine!!!!

Thank you for all the concerned comments and emails. I am fine and so are the family. We had a wonderful vacation in Florida, and when we got back school started and things got hectic. I have not been able to get motivated to stamp. I think my mind was spinning too fast. This week though I got back into the groove. Simon started the fourth grade--wow time flies!! Carre started her second of year of nursing school. This time next year she should be done and working. Doss started his job and is really likeing it. Everybody is here most of the time now and it is really neat. I have more to do, but I love the nights when everybody is here for supper. I have been reading a lot and doing a lot more cooking that normal. I started reading while on vacation, and have been using this for my escape from reality. I have just about read all the books I had stock piled, so I see more stamping in the future. Lots of things going on here. My best friend came over before I left and told me she was going to be a grandmother again. Last year her oldest had a little girl, and this year her youngest is going to have twin boys. We have been going through the smocking books getting ready for Christmas. She has not picked out just which patterns she wants done, but as soon as she does I will start on them. She is so calm, I would be nuts!! Her daughter is doing fine, but one of the babies is not growing as much as the other. Please include them in your prayers. My family is great at the moment, and I thank God everyday for this. You never know what can happen in an instant these days. The card above is made with Brazzil card stock and Ki designer paper--grasshopper. The stamp is from Unity Stamps and the felt butterflies are from Heidi Swapp. The fibers are some I have had for ever. Ya'll take care. Be safe, be happy, and be healthier. Please pray for my dad, he is having some medical problems also. God bless ya'll!!!!

Taylor's Thallenge

This is my take on Taylor's Cupcake Challenge for this week. The sketch and her blog are here: http://www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/ This is always great challenges, and if you have never entered you should. The Cp is from CTMH and the DP is from Junkitz. It is the Teresa Collins Shabby Chic Collection. I have had this paper for sometime. The eyelets are from CTMH-Baby Pink. The ric rac ribbon is from my stash. The sentiment and image are from My Favorite Things, and is called Hey Cupcake!!

There are lots of blog candy give aways out there in blogland today. I am going to list some links, and ya'll go see:

http://yingandrubberstamping.blogspot.com/2008/07/high-hopes-new-release-blog-candy.html Ying Pang's blog

http://spiralwhisper.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-candy-giveaway.html Spiral Whisper's blog

http://donaldas.blogspot.com/2008/07/challenge-blog-for-children.html Donalda's blog

http://andreabrownjohn.blogspot.com/2008/07/magnolia-blog-candy-pauline-from.html Andrea's blog

http://mariascards.blogspot.com/2008/07/5000-hits-blog-candy.html Maria's blog

Ya'll go see and join in the fun!! Be safe, be happy, be healthy and God bless ya'll!!

Blog Hopping

Hey ya'll!! I have been lost at work all week, and this is the first day I have had to create or talk. With vacations and pregnancies, I may never get my weekly day offs again until winter. No really, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it does not shine until mid August!! It's ok in some ways though because most of this work is overtime!! Great vacation money.

Back to the important things--as ya'll know, I am on the design challenge team of Nina's Purple Fairie Paper Crafts http://www.purplefaeriepapercrafts.com/. The above card was the July challenge. She sent us a stamp from her store and teh challenge was to use a quilting technique. This was mine. The cardstock is from Bazzill and the designer paper is from Pink Paislee's Spring collection. The stamp is Purple Fairie's Star Quilt. The sentiment and faux stitching is from CTMH's Simple Stitches. Ribbon is mine from my stash. Technique used is paper piecing. This was so much fun to do!!

While blog hopping this morning and sipping my coffee (I slept in!!) I found the neatest blog. The artwork is fantastic and the creativity is awesome. Not only that, she is offering blog candy now that rocks!! Her name is Maya http://mayas-hobbyblogg.blogspot.com/. Please go see. You will be glad you did. I believe this is one of the best blogs I have seen in a while. I am going to start creating and finish my coffee. Take care. Be safe, be happy, be healthy and God bless ya'll!!

iheart2stamp challenge-070508

This is my entry for the Sketch for You to Try at http://www.iheart2stamp.com/. The stamp is one I received this week from Lisbet at Scrapmagasinet http://scrapmagasinet.blogspot.com/ She was having blog candy and I won. This stamp line is so cute. It is called the Rakle Collection and there are lots of stamps. Go take a look at the cute creations she has as well as the stamps. The cardstock and designer paper are CTMH. The brads are a long time item of mine and I have no idea where I got them. The sentiment is printed on the computer, and the flower is from Petaloo. Layering and paper piecing are the techniques I used.

I am really trying to catch up on lots of things I have neglected this weekend. I was given an award this week from Bev at "All the Things I Love" http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/ but I am not computer savvy and my big kids are out of town so I cannot get the award symbol to tranfer to my blog. It was "The Brilliante Weblog Premio 2008" award and I was so honored to be chosen by her for this. I am to nominate 7 more people, but until I can show the award, I think it best to wait.

My encouragement for today is:

"Creativity is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God"-- ---Bob Moawad

I found two new blogs this week and I want ya'll to go look and let them know how well they are doing. The first is Christie's http://www.blessingsonpaper.com/ It is awesome. The next is http://polkadotmoon.blogspot.com/ Ya'll stop by and comment and give them encouragement. Comments are always a good incentive booster and can get those artist juices flowing.

I have a few more challenges to complete and I will see ya'll back this week. As always---be safe, be happy, be healthy--hug those you love, an extra hug or two won't hurt--and the most important, God Bless Ya'll!!!

Great Blog Candy!!

While blog hopping this am before going to work, I came across a wonderful blog with great candy. This is the link to the candy:
http://rosaswelt.blogspot.com/2008/06/de-licous-candy.html
She has great artwork and this candy is sthe bomb!! She is giving away a Magnolia stamp as well as a great altered book to keep your images in and images also. Go check it out!! God bless ya'll!!

Catch Up Time!!

I have been trying to find the time to thank all these people for the wonderful RAK's I received on Bella RAK Day last month. These cards are great!! The one with the horse and tag was received from Donna and it was about Florida. Thanks Donna. I am heading your way in about 2 1/2 weeks. The Beach Bella was from Melissa and it was all about Louisiana. My hubby will be your way in about 1 month. He works there about 1/2 the year. Thank you!! The Wineabella card is from Denise and it was all about Indiana. Hopefully, I will make it there someday. Thanks!! The last card was Javabella and it was from Mary and all about Montana. My oldest son has been there and said it was absolutely gorgeous. Hope I make that trip someday also. Thank you for thinking of me!! Due to the increase cost of gas and everything else, a lot of family vacations have been cancelled this year, so an idea was made on Bellaholics Anonymouse to send RAK's showcasing your state. Lots of the girls did it and everyone enjoyed all the wonderful cards and postcards along with descriptions of important places. Really good idea!!!

The Shopabella card is one I received from Jen as a PIF. Her blog is :

http://inking-obsessions.blogspot.com/ I entered her Pay It Forward contest and she picked me as one of the people to receive her gifts. The idea is to receive, then post on your blog and pick 3 and you PIF them. So, I will pick 3 people who comment on this post and they will receive some goodies from me. I received some great stamped images!! They were by Stampin Bella and House Mouse. Please comment so you have the chance to win. I have some great things ready to go out.

Hope everyone had a great 4th. I ended up working, but my family was able to do the fun things. Take care. Be happy, be healthy, be safe, and God bless ya'll!!!

OCC Challenge-6/28/2008

Our Creative Corner http://www.ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ has a weekly challenge they issue on Saturdays. Last weeks challenge was to use Basic Grey paper on your card. This is my entry. The card base is white cardstock. The designer paper is "Two Scoops" from Basic Grey. The ribbon is from Papertrey Ink, and the stamp set is an old one from Stampin Up. It is called "Sweet Herbs". The image and sentiment are from this set. The image is colored with CTMH markers. Oh yea, the bauble is from Stampin Bella. Hope you enjoy!! I am on my way to the grocery store. I will see ya'll later. Take care. Be healthy, happy, safe, and God bless ya'll!!!!

What a Week!!!

What a week. I have been so busy at work, that I was not able to stamp until today. This card is for Jen's Sketch For You To Try from Saturday over on her blog http://www.iheart2stamp.com/ This is one challenge I try to do every week. The cardstock is Bazzill and the designer paper is from Making Memories. The ribbon is from Stampin Up and so is the image. The set I used is called Peace and Hope. It is an older set, but I use it a lot. The baubles are from Stampin Bella. The techniques I used were layering and masking. I colored the image with my chalks. I have not done this in quite a while. I had forgotten how much fun the chalks were.



The two newbies I would like to spotlight today are: Jami's blog
http://jamiscrazedthoughts.blogspot.com/ Her kids are precious and her artwork is neat. She has been blogging for a while, but I just found her. The other is a new stampin store fixing to get going. It is called Spiral Whisper and the stamp sets they are showing are great. The address is http://spiralwhisper.blogspot.com/ Go give them a look and let them know what a good job they are doing.



I am including all my weekly usuals in today's post. Hopefully, I will be back tomorrow, but we are short handed at work due to vacations and people on maternity leave, so you never know. This week we had 2-3 other people calling in sick each day, so that killed us. I even had to work on my day off. I hope this week will be better.



This week's encouragement is:
"There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self." Aldous Huxley



I hope ya'll have a great week. Enjoy the Fourth, but be safe. Take care of all your friends and family. Be healthy and happy. Hug all those you love, and God bless ya'll!!!

Painted Cross

A little something different today. I painted this cross for my daughter the other day. She has been having a little difficulty in her personal life lately and I thought this would help cheer her up. It did!! She loves crosses, and has several throughout her house, so I made this one for her bedroom. I have done some of these for gifts lately and love doing them.

I am on call again this weekend, so I do not know if I will have time to post a lot, but I will try. Ya'll have a great time this weekend. Be safe, be happy, be healthy. Hug those loved ones, and God bless ya'll!!

Color Challenge Entry

While blog hopping this evening, I saw this color challenge on Bela's blog
http://belascreatingplace.blogspot.com/. There were three different challenges--sheet challenge, hammock challenge, and outdoor party challenge. They are all color challenges. The winners will get a High Hopes stamp. I submitted this for the outdoor party color challenge. I made the card using Bazzill CS. The DP is from Pink Paislee and K &Co. The stamped image and sentiment are from MFT. The flower embellishment and the ribbon are random from my stash. The image is paper pieced except for the skin and it was colored with my CTMH markers. This challenge closes out tomorrow at midnight. It is a great challenge and her blog is wonderful. She is really creative. Go look and see. Hope ya'll have a good evening and God bless ya'll!!!!

Today's card is one I made a couple of days ago. I saw a card similar to this while browsing, with the basic brown and off white cs and background and then a hint of color added. I am so sorry, but I cannot remember where I saw it, but I did comment to the person about how much I loved this. If the technique is cased from you, please let me know so I can go back and give you credit. The CS is from Bazzill and the Dp is from Jenni Bowlin Studio. The ribbon is from my stash and the sentiment and stamp are from the Stampin Up set "Thanks from the Heart". The baubles were used as an accent embellishment. The fibers are also some scraps from my stash.

This week's encouragement is: "Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others"---------Plato

I would also like to let you know about two newbies today also: the first is not brand new, but I think it is a good one that should be highlighted. It is

http://fortheartofit.blogspot.com/... The other is not brand new either, but deserves some recognition. It is http://inking-obsessions.blogspot.com/ Both ladies have awesome talent and neat life conversations. Time has come for me to get ready for work. Take care! Be healthy, be happy, be safe and hug those loved ones. May God bless ya'll!!!

The Wild Bunch

The weather held off and we had a great birthday!! This is the wild bunch. Really they were great. The drive was 1 hour 45 minutes each way, and they were real angels. The water park is so neat. We will be going back before summer ends. Simon had a blast. The first two pics are from the water park, which I do not have a lot of because I left the water proof camera here and only had my digital. The last pic was when we got home. They rolled out of the car and started wrestling in the front yard. I think they bottled up all their energy until we got home. We did the cake and ice cream thing after we got back home. Thanks for all the prayers for great weather and the birthday well wishes. He thought that was so neat that people he did not know where wishing him happy birthday. I will be back later to post a card, but I have to get to work now. Take care, be healthy, be happy, and be safe. God bless ya'll, and have a great day!!

Beate's Challenge #52

I am on vacation today and tomorrow, because my little one turns 10 tomorrow. The plan is to take 4 or 5 of his friends to the water park. We are leaving here at 8:30 in the am--park opens at 10:30, and it is a 2 hour drive--stay all day and come here late tomorrow for cake and ice cream. He is so excited. We have run into a few kinks though. #1-his best friends are off at camp, #2- it may rain, #3- baseball games. I hope it all works out for him. He is so excited. I am fixing to go and finish making his cake. I did have time this a.m. to make this card for Beate's Challenge. It is a very simple design. The only hard part was the water coloring. If you visit my blog much, you know I am a paper piecer, not a colorer. It turned out better than I thought. The cardstock is from Bazzill and the DP is from Daisy D's. The image is from an old Stampin Up set called "Friends". I used my CTMH inks to color. Ya'll have a great day. I close with my usual--Be safe, be healthy, be happy--Hug your loved ones--and by far the most important--God bless ya'll!!!!