HELLO SPRING TIME

       Hi there , so  what are you all doing  to welcome spring ?   If  you are in  the  midwest, or a little more west  or  south  or  east  or  north   lol ...
 Well I bet you are  hoping this white stuff melts  quickly  and  stays  away  for  about 8 or 9 months...
  I love SNOW...it is so pretty  A true  piece of God's art...
     But I am told Spring is here, I wonder if the EASTER BUNNY  will be hiding  eggs in the snow   lol

    I  am blessed with so many special people in my  life, some  friends, some special  friends and some  just great  people in business. As I have been remembered  by a few  this  month,  I wanted to see if I could  get some  creative  juices  flowing   to say thank you ...

    The first card is  with an  image  from a  super  guy,   yep  he is one of those great  friends..  This image was perfect  to use  for a sweet  lady,  that does my taxes.   I thought it was cute to represent  her  this time of  year...   BUSY  BUSY
I   just  used  some colorful dp, basic  matting  and  a bit of coloring  with pencils...

   Now # 2  was  for  a gentleman  I know  from  the banking business, so I wanted to be a bit more professional...  not sure red  is professional,  but I liked it   : )

This  is cased  from a similar card  my niece  made me a few years ago...  Some ideas are  just too good  not  to  use ...  : )

And #3  is  Springy...  I did  this at a class,  and  have been holding on to it  for  just the right time and person... So  my  special friend  that is always with  me  in  heart, spirit  and prayer every day   will be receiving this in just a few days...Sometimes  these two little words are  just not enough...

I love the colors, and  the  extra detail was so much fun...using a piece of acetate was  cool,    just one of those cards I  felt good about...  I used background stamping,  a blender pen to color the water , some  patterned dp, ticket corner punch, and fun  paper clips  ...added bling  and ribbon

     Thanks  for stopping  in.  I hope  you get to enjoy some amazing spring like weather real soon...
As always, SMILE and share some  kindness today...

See you soon...
Soni

Time for a SHOWER

  Hello,  how are  you doing today ?  I am trying to find some sun shine  on this  nasty day .
 It  is  so   rainy  and dreary  !    I guess the good of it  is  at least  the temperature was near 50, but it still felt so chilly .

   My daughters and I are  going to a WEDDING SHOWER  tomorrow. The bride to be is  a beautiful  young lady,  and so full of  happiness and joy,   it just  bubbles  out of  her..
 My daughter Krista is  doing the cake , so I offered to make the card  . ~OH SILLY ME ~   lol
I will post a picture of the cake  as soon as I have one...
    Keep in mind  I am just  not  much in the creative  mode,  every time I think I am, whew, it flies out the window again .  I wanted to try  for something  frilly, and  pretty..    hmmm       that did not happen at all . But I did come up with something a bit  more simple,  maybe  more modern, or  non traditional .

     Her colors  are pale yellow and  a form of purple, so I went with the yellow.~ barely banana  to be  exact
  I used an  old set  called CELEBRATION  and added  a touch of  a embossed  partial layer , trimmed in ribbon ;  then  just simple mounting, rounded corners,  a  touch of bling to  give  the flowers  dimension  and
a white  opague gel pen  for the rain drops
  and   here  you have it . : )

Simple as always,  I did not have stamps appropriate  for a shower, but I thought these words were  very appropriate to start a marriage

Thanks for stopping  by,  glad I had the  hot water ready for tea... and  the banana bread  sliced and ready to serve : )

Til next time, smile  and  enjoy  each day
Sonja

Ok as I  promised,  here is the picture of the  cake...  I think it is so pretty,  but the best part is...it tastes  as good as it looks   : )

So  thanks again  for stopping by...
I hear  warmer  temps are on the way... hope we can  enjoy some  time on the  front porch soon   : )
Have a  great week ...

March Winds

Hello. how are all of  you? Well February was  rough here, weather and  other forces... Sorry I did not get back...It seemed I was  blocked out of my blog  due to  email account issues, can you believe it???
I may need  to  make some changes,  but if I do  please know I will  definitely  let  you all know

I am considering a new blog with pictures  of  just daily  life,  I know my life is  busy enough to keep that one  updated   lol  : )    And  maybe try a different  attitude at the  crafting one ...

Today  is only  share pictures  day  ...We are in March   with  more snow   falling.  I for one am really hoping to see signs of SPRING soon .. you know, sun shine, pretty flowers  all in colorful bloom   Children playing outside , watching my critters  run and play   and  oh and the fields getting planted, one cannot leave that out when she lives in the midst of farm land

So  here are some pictures  from yesterday  in our latest  winter  mix    creating  another winter storm

 The first two are  early morning  hours  of the  misty  heavy  wet  mix if rain, ice and snow

And the next two  are about  mid day, still heavy in the air  and  vision ability still not  much

   And the  last two are so clear  in late afternoon as the storm has moved on , leaving us with the beauty of fresh fallen snow, all white and    peaceful 

So, this is  just a look at  winter in the midwest,  yes even in March
I remember  at least one EASTER EGG HUNT in the snow  : )

But I really wonder if this day of this storm if it was not a lesson...Wait  and be patient,
 it will become  clear : )

I need to play with some St Patty's Day  pieces,  tho I do not think I know  any one  that is  Irish...hmmm

So  I will TRY  to  come share if I get creative...

As always  thanks for stopping  by...
I know it is too cold and windy to sit on my porch...so come on in,
 we can have  coffee, tea  or  hot cocoa...
 Today  banana bread is on the menu  too  : )
 Well if I go get  busy it will be

Stay warm, stay  safe
Smile  and  be kind to someone today

Sonja

THE RED

Ok  I did  get  just a couple of super simple  cards made...
  It bugged  me  that  I did not show case any  in RED  lol

This was made  for one of  my grand daughters... 

I used a white card  base,  attached  a piece of  red striped  vellum ~
 I  cut it wider that the card, folded over 1/2 inch and adhered  to the back
 then I  used mono   under where my  my  sentiment  was  to  keep the  vellum in place ..
  I added  some red velvet ribbon,  that  came from a  friend... as well as the  little  LOVE image .
I used  a couple of punches  to add some  dimension .
I hear  my grand daughter  really liked it  ~   As  her  mom said  she " disected"  it ..
.and thought it was cool 

So  hey  it is a card
 WOO HOO  for  me  

My craft room is messy,  yippee ~
 my  oldest daughter  made a couple cards  today too...
I now remember why I do not us  red craft  ink   I have  "inky fingers "    : )  

Thanks  for stopping by...  Come  back soon

FEBRUARY

Hello,  Brrrrr.
It is still  cold  here,  how about where you all are ?

I am sad to say I  still  do not have  a lot  of  creative  inspiration  going on...
I do have stamps  pulled,  paper  pulled  but,  still at a  road  block ....

But this  being the month  of  that all famous  day  of  LOVE   how could I not post...
My life is  lived  through my heart,  and  with  love...

Actually,   I renamed  VALENTINES DAY  in our family and extended  family   : )
 I know  how can I do that   lol     Well those that  know me, will be smiling 

We  call it   HAPPY HEART DAY   and my  perception of the day  is to tell   EVERY   single person you love,  how  much you love them, and why  ...  Love is  too special   to  only be available  for  one day a year, or  just  for couples in love..
 Love is  to share happiness, joy,  kindness, and  happy spirits,  and  just any thing  your  heart  feels...

So to all of you  that  follow my blog, support me in life  and are related to me...

I love you all  far more than my words can  ever express .  I hope I show you  daily,  not  just on this Day

Here are a few of my  cards  from the past...  pick which one  you like best  and open  it up,  there  you will find  special love from  me ..
the first was made for my brother ,,,The second  for a friend who loves  Vintage and  Victorian...The third
was  just a non traditional color   challenge and the last  was a neutral  tone  challenge
 I find it odd I did not showcase any in  RED...the color of LOVE....

So  I hope you all can smile, and enjoy  your day on Thursday  and  tell some one  you love them...
I will be thinking of each of  you and  sending  my love  ...

Happy Heart Day

January

   Wow, we are 2/3 of the way through the month and I have nothing creative to share, not even pictures of my  wonderful  family ~    I will try to correct that real soon

    My daughters, grandchildren and I  had to face another sadness in our lives.  Another death of a loved one,  yes  3  in 21 months to the day , but who  is counting ? !    My girls  loved this man that chose to be "grandpa " to them all of their lives..  A lesson in life that family is not always  connected  by blood.  They were given years of  happiness,  love  and  good memories, along with teachings of  life, respect,and all  HE thought  was  right and important. Tho we may not agree,  but to be able to still care, love and respect  is a characteristic  beyond  my words.
 I am proud  he was able to  to  smile when he was with  my girls  and then their children too .   And  so glad  he  was able to  make  their life  better in  some ways...
Life is full of mysteries,  some never to be  solved  .

    It was  hard the last few months, "knowing" , yet not knowing  "when ".   I am so proud of my girls, for  giving him his  due  respect that they felt was  right... A life lesson for sure ~  no matter what  others saw , felt   or thought,  they were able to do what was in their heart, and important to them..  That was  his choice,  for them to be there  til  the end ...

    Some times  just sharing words and pictures  are necessary.   Thank you all for  allowing me  that privilege .
    I do hope  for normality in my life again, ~  seems like I have been here before ~
so I hope I  find my calm,  my peace...
  When I cannot  reach  others  with  kindness, I try to  still find a way to  express my  heart..
.
    So now I am off to try to find a space in this mini brain  to  go back to  my  passion...create and share


    Thanks for stopping by,  remember ,  the lone chair is there  for you to sit a while,
  sure wish we could have some tea  and visit...
  Take care , see you all soon I hope... With a smile in my heart 

Sonja

2013

          Happy  2013  to all of you .
    I am sorry there is not anything  new here. Christmas time is always  busy,  and keep in mind  that I have  three family birthdays in December all before Christmas .  But this  year  my family was  so sick  two to three weeks  before Christmas, so I helped watch their children,  did shopping when I could ~  Then the Friday before I was hit hard and fast, I was so sick it scared me.  My daughters were amazing  with their  help and we were able to have and enjoy Christmas on Christmas day .

   I did not make any Christmas cards, I did no  Christmas baking   and my youngest daughter did almost all of my wrapping while my  oldest daughter  was out shopping for me and  picking up medicine.  .  Plus we had a storm  the Thursday before, were with out power just a few  hours .
   So I think it is safe to say it was the most different Christmas  I have ever had ~   but it was White  Christmas : )
 The LOVE of FAMILY was still here and in abundance .
    The night we put my tree up , we found I needed new lights ~ of course~ I was so sad that I could not get it  decorated ~ My youngest grandson  did this on  his own, came and gave me a hug  and said  " it is ok gramma,  we will get it done  "
   I am so blessed

  Here is  another  picture  after  my tree was  decorated  and gifts  were  under it ...It looks a little different  huh ?  : )

  New Years  day we carried on  with  our tradition of 15  years  at least,  to start the New Year as a family. We were all together  New Years Eve as well,  party hats, noise makes ,yummy snacks  and happy  kids ~  Sisters  that enjoyed each others company  and a son in law that  tried to  keep us all happy...A perfect  picture to add to my memories .
    New Years Day  other family  members  came, we  shared good food,  and time with each other  I got to see my great nephew I  have only seen once or twice  so far,   we played games,  and it was a great way to start the New Year...We hope the rest of the year  follows suit.
   I do not  make  make  resolutions,  I just try to decide  on some thing  I need to work on  within  my self... And it is easier  to  try  to accomplish it usually  ...  This year I want to  see  what I am doing  that I can better~  I know to be HAPPY  that one must be honest with them self  so  I am searching to see what I am hiding behind...  I  know  can reach a higher level of  HAPPINESS  and help others in someway too .
 Well at least I hope I can : )

  I wish you all  ONLY  good things for this year...Especially those that  make you happy ~  Family  makes me  happy  , and seeing them happy  is even better ~
                  But most of all  May 2013 be BLESSED for all of us