In a Ruffled Mood...

Guess what I got in the mail?

STAMPS! Yay!! Ahem--not that I need more stamps, but these ones were special. That's my story--

No really, these are the most unusual stamps I've seen and they'll work great for mixed media type projects and cards. I just love these!  I got them from Designs by Ryn. 

Water Droplets

Trickling Water

If you go to her site by clicking on the links above, there are a number of completed projects using these stamps. She also has a FB page. Plus, she gave me a little bonus stamp in my package. So sweet!

I love these and can't wait to use them!

However, for now I have another card for you. This one I made as a thank you to my aunt and uncle in Holland who sent a little gift back for me with my sister. 

To ruffle the paper all you do is carefully wet it, scrunch/shape it and let it dry completely. I shaped each ruffle every 5 minutes or so. You do want it dry, or else the tape won't stick when you lay it on the card. 

I just wrote in the Thank You---wish I had a stamp.
Not sure why I don't. Guess it's on my list---because a girl can't have enough stamps. 

Well, uh---yes she can. Ahem---it never ends. I may be turning into a stampaholic. 

When I first got into scrapbooking, I followed the advice of someone who told me to take all my photos out of the albums and into boxes, which I foolishly did. I really wish I hadn't. Over the years they got mixed up badly. 

After sorting photos into years (which took 2 days), I just went through the 80's and pre-80's and some of the 90's. I've culled out all the duplicates (which will be saved for family) and gone through the photos to see if they're keep-worthy.

Only 4 or 5 boxes to go. Sigh.

On the bright side, I found a couple of albums that hold 500 photos each for cheap! Happy, happy, happy! 

Well, that's all for now. Hope you're all having a lovely week!

Blessings,

Carmen

Manly? Yes!

Hello,

I awoke to a dismal, dreary, rainy day this morning, but now the sun is shining, the skies are clear, and things are looking happy, happy, happy. I want to fit in a walk now that my back is a little better. Let's hope the weather agrees!

It was so wonderful to read all your well wishes for our anniversary. It made my days that much more special! (I know the font I'm using makes the 29 look like 24, but it was our twenty ninth anniversary, if you're still wondering.)

Anyway, a heartfelt Thank you!

To those of you who are new followers, a warm welcome indeed.

I post as often as I am able. Life, family, grandkids...well, they come first. I hope you feel that way yourselves too. 

I made some cards in the last week or so. I totally cheated this year and made 4 cards that were similar for Father's Day. I have two sons with kids and two fathers to make cards for, so I felt completely justified in saving the time by not designing four different cards. Such a lazy card maker!

I didn't even get a chance to make one for my husband, although he did get some small gifts. (Thank you Bath & Bodyworks for your 50% off deals! Hehehe...)

Anyway, back to the cards...

The one above was embellished with a Father's Day ribbon that I believe came from Purdy's. ( I'm recycling...look at me go!)  I also used some self stick crystals along the lines on the paper. I embossed the moustaches with a few different cuttlebug folders. 

On this one I used brads that look like screws (love these for men's cards) and also a metal corner embellishment. That's about it...easy peasy.

This one is my favorite. I added some black brads and a decorative metal corner embellishment. I put some of the blue paper through an edge punch and fit it on the side, then I took a bit of leftover black cardstock from another edge punch and used it on the bottom. I tied it with some colored hemp string.

I actually made one more card but forgot to take a photo of it. It's a little frustrating when you intend to do a post with a photo you forgot to take. Lol...good thing I made 4 similar cards...you'll have to  use your imagination for the last one. I think it was yellow...

BTW, the moustaches are a freebie I gave you from THIS post. I just printed them off and cut them up, then put them through a cuttlebug folder.

Well, that's all for now. 

Hope you have a good week~

Blessings,

Carmen

It's My Anniversary!! Let's Celebrate with Free Digi's!

Today (June 16th) is my anniversary! Although it's hard to believe, it's been 29 years (twenty NINE!!!) and I have no idea how the time went so fast!

We married in a little church in Victoria BC that my son later dubbed 'the castle church'. I think maybe because it had some stained glass windows? It was a simple wedding and a simple reception with about 80 friends and family. We both cried while saying our vows, thereby making some in the congregation cry. Yes, we're fun like that! (grin). In some ways it was like a fairy tale. We'd met and then married within 6 months. We just knew! Now we have four sons, six grandchildren with one on the way, and three beautiful daughter in laws (I'm not just saying that, they are all really beautiful women!!).

Marriage, however, is not always an easy journey. There are times when I've entertained the thought of leaving and I know my husband has done the same. It's never easy living with another person, whether it's your mom and dad, your husband, your best friend. We tend to get 'lax' with the other person and become careless.

What I say and how I say it can come across in a different way than I intended it. So here's some unsolicited advice if I may? 

Always season your words with grace, treat people with a loving attitude even when they're out of sorts (it's often not because of you anyway). 

Give people the benefit of the doubt (most mean well).

Give people their space! (most men particularly need this, I think)

Take every opportunity to laugh! 

Always, ALWAYS be kind to each other, especially when you don't feel like it.

Someone said I looked too young to be married 29 years. The photo above was taken about 4 years ago, so it's fairly recent. People often tell me I look younger than I am. Truth be told, I'm a grey/white hair, but it's a cover up! Lol..

Anyway, I've gone on and on and most of you have probably given up and scrolled down!  Thanks for listening...those of you who patiently stayed with me!

Here are your freebies for a limited time only. They will be watermarked tonight so get them now!

 And remember, if your marriage feels like THIS:

As difficult as it will be...and it will be difficult....

Do what you can to season it with good words, nurture it with good intentions and seed it with good actions, and in the end, you may be rewarded with THIS:

*The last two images are always free.*

Here's a card Lora made with one of these images. I love her card!

There are more examples under the first post of this penny farthing HERE, if you want some ideas.

Thanks for celebrating with me! I hope you enjoy your freebies. It's been my joy to share them with you! 

Blessings,

Carmen

*All watermarked images are available for a donation of 1.50 each. The donate button is in the right side bar. Please remember to specify which image(s) you'd like. 

Let's Celebrate #6 More Free Digi's!

One more day and it's my 29th Anniversary! Yay!

I have freebies for you today and tomorrow and then all the watermarks will go back on! So get them while you can and make sure you check out my last 5 posts as well. (click on 'home' to go to the start and see them all). 

Here's todays' freebies:

My candle shelf Christmas image...it'll be here sooner than you think!! 

And another steampunk image, the flying boot!

Tomorrow there will be two more images, one steampunk and one more christmas image. Tomorrows' digis will only be up for a day or less, so check in early! 

Enjoy!

Carmen

*All watermarked digi's are available for a donation of 1.50 each. The donate button is in the right side bar. Please remember to note which digi(s) you'd like through Paypal, or send me an email.

Let's Celebrate #5! Free Digi's!

Hello!

Wow! What a week! 

More freebies for you today! What a wonderful way to celebrate my 29th anniversary!!

Ready?

Ah, another flying ship! I don't know if this is more whymsical or steampunk...

This Christmas image was an all time favorite on this blog! 

Remember, they're free for a limited time only! Remember to check back on the last few posts for more limited time freebies!

Enjoy!

Carmen

*All watermarked images are available for a donation of $1.50 each. The donation button is in the right side panel. Please remember to specify which image you'd like. 

Let's Celebrate #4! More Freebies!

Hi there,

Another day, another freebie!

First, I have been resting up the last few days as I have pulled out my back somehow. Prior to that Iwalked every day for 45 minutes or so and have lost quite a bit of weight, but this has definitely set me back. I'm hoping it heals quickly! I will attempt to walk with a friend again tomorrow after a week long break. I'm hoping my back holds out! Wish me luck!

Anyway...

This time I have a coffee cup freebie that was quite popular I'm removing the watermark from for a limited time.

And, a steampunk flyer...

Enjoy!

Let me know if you use them on anything! I'd love to see your work! 

Carmen

*All watermarked images are available for a donation of 1.50 each. The donate button is in the right side bar. Make sure you note which image you'd like.

Let's Celebrate #3! More Freebies!

Good Morning!

Today I have a couple more images for you! Most of my popular images are of the steampunk genre, so I'll try and include one steampunk image each time! 

So, without further babble, here are todays' temporary freebies:

Both will be great for use on Father's Day cards! Only 6 days away!!

I found this cute free printable on the Landee See, Landee Do blog. Go there to print it off!

Have a good day!

Carmen

*All watermarked images are available for a donation of $1.50 each. The donation button is in the right side panel. Please remember to specify which image you'd like. 

Let's Celebrate 2, Free images

It's another day to celebrate!

Here are my images for this post...today we're going Primitive! 

Enjoy!

Have a good week,

Carmen

*All watermarked images are available for a donation of $1.50 each. The donation button is in the right side panel. Please remember to specify which image you'd like. 

Let's Celebrate~It's a Good Day for Freebies!!!

Let's Celebrate! It's going to be a good day!

I've decided to temporarily remove the watermarks off of some of my most popular images for a limited time only.

Why am I doing this?

My 29th anniversary is coming up on the 16th, and to celebrate I will be posting 2 of my watermarked images every day or two  until then. Ya, you'd think I'd wait until my 30th...but it's no fun being predictable.

So keep posted...it's for a limited time only!

Tell your friends!

Each post with my popular images will be a "Let's Celebrate" post.

Both of these ones would be great for Father's Day...which just happens to fall on my anniversary this year!

Blessings!

Carmen

*All watermarked images are available for a donation of $1.50 each. The donation button is in the right side panel. Please remember to specify which image you'd like. 

Free Digital Inchie Sketches

Does it seem to anyone else that time is just flying by? I thought things were supposed to slow down as you got a little...ummm....more experienced. Not so, apparently! Happy end of May! Unbelievable....

Well, it's been a long, long, long while since I did up any digital images. I just got busy and they are time consuming to make. So, I woke up at 4:30 this morning...tossed around for a half hour and got up. Suddenly I had some extra time! 

I had inchies in mind at the time and I am just loving the mixed media art I'm seeing everywhere right now. So here's what I made.

It was fun to get back in the saddle. It's amazing how much you forget if you don't keep at things! 

I hope you can use these! 

Blessings,

Carmen