King of Hearts ATC

This is the latest addition to my ARTHaven Yahoo Group's Deck of Cards swap. I think the timing on the King of Hearts is perfect since Valentine's Day is right around the corner. :)

This ATC is made using my handmade papers; white for the background and red for the heart in the middle. The "k" and the two smaller hearts are stamped on the paper and the King's crown in gold crayon paper.

I just love it!

Wrapped Candy Bar

For my ARTHaven swap partner, Judee, I wrapped this 4.5 oz Hershey's Chocolate bar with a sheet of my sage green handmade paper. I also used the Tim Holz supplies that my friend Angie gave me, the flourish mask and the peeled paint distress ink pad. Then I just wrapped it with a white fuzzy fiber and added the tag! I just love it! I am thinking of making up some of these for some of my co-workers for Christmas. It is just a neat little gift idea, don't you think?

Ace of Diamonds ATC

My Yahoo Arthaven group is having a monthly swap that involves making an ATC for each card in a deck of playing cards. I am using an actual deck of cards and altering each card as we go. This is my Ace of Diamonds ATC. I was browsing through my paper stash and found the diamond paper in orange and black so I knew I just had to use it for this card! I found a matching sheet of paper that had the alphabet in different fonts so I found a couple of A's and glued them to the corners. I wanted some kind of sparkle because I just love things that sparkle! And because diamonds sparkle! LOL so I added the gold glitter paint in the middle. This is the result. :) I really like the different fonts of the A and I plan to use that method again.

Heartfelt Gratitude - ATC

My very good Friend Angie sent me some goodies last week: A Tim Holz mask (Flourish) and a Tim Holz distress ink pad (peeled paint). I was very excited because I don't have anything by Tim Holz and I had read so many good things about his line of craft goodies. Angie was so very thoughtful to share those goodies with me that I thought I needed to make something to show my gratitude using those very items. This ATC is the result. The background paper is a Christmas paper that I have had for a while. I don't know who makes it but it is so pretty and the color of the green peeled paint ink pad works perfectly with it. I brushed on the peeled paint ink over the flourish mask on the background paper as well as on the border piece. The words are from my stash of words that I have started collecting thanks to Angie who has a major stash of words for her art. This ATC will be on the way to Angie as soon as I brave going to the Post Office to buy some stamps!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Today is a beautiful day in North Carolina. The sun is shining and the outside temperature is nice a comfortable. I am showing off a Zinnia that has bloomed in my not so flourishing flower garden. It is such a bright flower!

I am enjoying the day at home with my wonderful Hubby and Daughter. We had a Thanksgiving lunch of ham, potato salad, lettuce/tomato salad and pinto beans. I didn't cook a turkey. I thought that might be too much for just us 3. LOL.

We are having a relaxing day watching football. I am just so thankful that I have my family and even though we can't go home for the Holiday, I know that my family is able to enjoy the day with other family members and that they are all safe and healthy. I am also very thankful for my friends who are always there for me with a smile, encouraging email or just to say "hi, how are ya?". Thank you all for being a part of my life!

I am so thankful for my daughter who never ceases to amaze me with her vision of the world and who is always quick to laugh and put a smile on my face. She is the best daughter ever!

And of course I am thankful for my wonderful Hubby who is an awesome Marine (and he looks so handsome in his blues) and who is very understanding an supportive of my love of paper.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!!!

Marine Corps Ball - 234th Birthday Ball

We went to Wilmington last night to the USMC Birthday Ball. We had a lot of fun. It was really a lot of fun watching those Marines dance. Marines really know how to have fun on the dance floor. :)

I did get some pics, not very many though. There was some neat art in our hotel room and our hotel room view was nice too. Even though the weather was overcast, rainy and windy.

Here is the cake...

This was an origami shadow box that was in our hotel room...

Another piece of art from our room...

This was the view from our hotel room window. That is the USS North Carolina across the river...

I am really glad we got the chance to go this year. It is always nice to get together with other Marines and their spouses and enjoy a birthday party with dinner and dancing.

Happy Birthday Marines!

Today is the United States Marine Corps Birthday. Jason and I have been a part of the Marine Corps for 16.5 years! Every year there is a big birthday party and we are going to ours on Thursday night. Should be a fun time. We get to get all dressed up and have dinner (with birthday cake!) and dancing.

I put together this set of paper in Crimson and Gold (USMC colors) and posted it on my Etsy shop. Happy Birthday Marines! Semper Fi!