To My Friends

The Big Risk

Dearest Blogging Friends,

A number of factors caused me to "hide" my true self, and try to be as low key and wordless as possible.

Among friends, family, and on-line, I used to enjoy sharing a bit about my "little life" 

("little", because I am home-bound). 

Unfortunately I regressed due to continued hostilities you know nothing about. 

I was made to think my Real Self was Ugly and Unacceptable.

Among the "things" and events which have helped free me,

is a healthy dose of you, 

my sweet internet friends.

Like a hibernating turtle, I am re-emerging from my shell,

and discovering that maybe I am not so unworthy that I have to hide in order to protect others from myself.

Some events especially this month have afforded even more liberty to my soul.

A BIG

for allowing me to be "me", 

and for helping me see that it is acceptable to be my real self, 

and to no longer hide.

You are the right combination of Encouragement, Friendship, and Support -

and the right combination of dear personalities come together.

Your artwork also is a healing balm - because it is who you are.

I am blessed...

and so...

You never know how your words and actions will affect another life.

You certainly have affected mine positively.

Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Some names in particular have helped, and your names are listed below.

love,

I probably have left some names out inadvertently,

but please know how much you have influenced me, and helped me over this terrible hurdle.

My life is different because of you.

Ann

Anne

Autumn

Barbara

Becky

Brenda

Carol

Cathy

Cheryl

Cliff

Connie

Darlene

Diane

Donna

Eddie

Eleanor

Jack

Jackie

Janice

Janis

John

Karen

Karin

Kevin

Kim

Leslie

Linda

Lisa

Lori

Lorraine

Margaret

Maria

Marie

Maryvonne

Monica

Pam

Pamellia

Pat

Paula

Pauline

Petra

Pia

Pooja

Sandy

Shirl

Shona

Sharon

Silvi

Sonia

Sue

Verna

Vicki

A Kind Heart Trio...

Note: My May Blog Candy is at the bottom of the Beach post.

Warm Greetings to everyone, and a special welcome to my newest followers.

But first...

Before sharing my card, I'd like to share a VERY HAPPY experience with an outstanding manufacturer. Spellbinders Grand Calibur has been my favored die cutting machine from the very beginning, when they first came out. My dear machine broke last week.

There is a happy ending, though.

Spellbinders offers a one year warranty on its machine, but mine is nearly 4 years old. I phoned their home office and spoke to Miss Fabulous Customer Service Karen Haas. After asking if I could purchase the parts so my husband could repair the GC, Karen kindly asked me to e-mail photos so she could determine if the correct parts were available. Three days later the parts were in our mailbox - mailed at no charge - in fact, the parts were completely at no charge. Spellbinders could not have given me a better gift than to back their product long after the warranty had expired. FABULOUS CUSTOMER SERVICE, SPELLBINDERS.

Today's card shares feature the birds on K and Company's pretty designer papers by Brenda Walton.

When piecing together card, I always look through my pads of DPs and think, "No, that needs to be for a card on its own". Then the papers are promptly forgotten until the next time I peruse for DPs.

Do you inadvertently save items for a special project, and then forget about them, so that they end up being in a stash of hoarded supplies?

This week I made 3 cards using the 3 sheets with birds in the bottom right corner. Each card is similar.

The card above is made with vellum edging from Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares, distressed and pieced together with stitching on the card. White flowers by Irene's Garden helped this card go together more quickly. One sentiment is popped up; the other is stamped direct to DP.

My second card is flat for regular mailing and uses 2 Spellbinders dies for the sentiments, two from Heartfelt creations. (the decorative corner is with vellum under all the tiny flowers. The flowers are embellished with Prills. And Memory Box's lovely Fuchsia Sprig die cut.

Less than 1/4" thick, the Prills still provide texture and dimension. The two images in this sentiment panel are from Impression Obsession (listed at the bottom of this post).

Interior sentiment is the same on each card, however, the edging is different on each card:

 Crafty Bloggers Network has a fabulous Tic Tac Toe Challenge going on.

The top card satisfies the row of "Flowers-Stamps-Stitching".

The second card has "vellum doily, stamps, sentiment".

The third card below has "Gems, 2 Vellum Doilies, punch/die cuts".

Over at Delightful Sketches, they, too are featuring a Bingo Card:

My first card features: Stitching, Glitter (right side beneath border bunch) and Flowers.

The second card features: Flowers, Punches/Die Cuts, Pattern Paper

The two Velvet glitters are on the inside panel; a strip each of Luau Green and Orchid Rose. They can just be seen through the Laurel Leaf border punch, but look fabulous on the inside. The Orchid Rose Velvet Glitter was also used between the jeweled flourishes for added bling.

Memory Box Tender Leaves Die Cuts were used to embellish the flowers on this card.

Gratefully Submitted to the following Lovely Challenges:

• Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge #11 Tic Tac Toe: Please see the special paragraph just for the Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge describing all three cards and how they use the grid.
• Delightful Challenges - Bingo: Please see the special paragraph just for the Delightful Challenges Challenge describing how two of these card follow the bingo card.
• Through the Craft Room Door - "Anything Goes"
• Nana Vic's Lady Anne's Challenge - #4 "Anything Goes"
• Use It Tuesday - #55 "You Can't Touch This" (designer paper, flowers, bling flourishes)
• Cup Cake Craft - #242 - Lots of Layers
• Fashionista - #15 - Vintage or Shabby
• Love to Create - #65 Lots of Flowers
• Songbird Challenges - #20 Bloom and Grow Flowers

The Following Products were used in creating my cards:

Sparkle N Sprinkle Velvet Glitters: **new** Orchid Rose, Luau Green
Sparkle N Sprinkle 1/2" and 1/4" Double Sided Tear-ific Tapes
Paper: K and Company Designer Paper by Brenda Walton, SU Eggplant, Pale Plum, White, Vellum
Spellbinders: Labels Thirteen, Fleur de Lis Squares, Fancy Tags Two
Martha Stewart Laurel Leaf PATP
Heartfelt Creations: Layered Scalloped Posy die, Decorative Blossom Corner Die
Lace, Fabric Softener Sheet, Cheese cloth, skeleton leaves, flowers by Irene's Garden
Memory Box: Fuchsia Sprig, Tender Leaves
USArtQuest: Prills Lemon Chiffon, PPA
Inks: Peeled Paint, Milled Lavender, Eggplant, Pumice Stone dye base, Imperial Purple VersaFine, VersaMark
Other Adhesives: Aileen's Quick Dry, Dimensionals
Images: SU Floral Friendship, IO Thinking of You Days, IO Sm. Flourish Four

Thanks for stopping by today! I always appreciate the time you have spent here, and for leaving your sweet comments.

hugs always and always,