Happy Birthday Darling....

Hello!  Anybody else happy that tomorrow is FRIDAY! Oh yea! I can't not wait to be off for the weekend. We have hardly any plans and I hope it stays that way.  My house is in terrible need of a good cleaning. My Hubby is taking the son to some boat thing on Saturday, my MIL is taking my daughter to a Fancy Nancy thing at Barnes and Noble. I love cranking my iTunes and cleaning. I would much rather do it without them here! When they are here things just never seem to get clean, KWIM. 

I plan on laying by the pool for a while Saturday and Sunday....I need some sun before I go on my cruise which is coming up soon! Speaking of, we are going on the Oasis of the Seas....I CAN NOT WAIT!  I am so going to find me a nice comfy chair and chill with my nook in one hand and a Strawberry Daq. in the other!  Sounds good, huh? This ship has so much stuff to do that my kids best not ever say the words "i'm bored!!"  If they do, I'm am going to wave over a waiter and get another drink....I'm telling you!!

Ok on to craft stuff. Recently I started chit-chatting with a fellow crafter/blogger. Anniebee does some beautiful work and I was ewww'in and awww'in (I don't know how to spell that but you get the idea!! LMBO) over her beautiful Roses!!  Well guesss what? She sent me some and they are even better in person. I am serious, I am totally blown away over the way these things are crafted. Not only are the beautiful (and they really are) they are the sturdiest Roses I have ever seen. I'm telling you...this girl has talent.

You can check out here Blog HERE.
Here are the beautiful roses  she sent me. I  love PINK!

Can you see the Rosebuds?? Oh my, I was just soooo happy with my package!! Thank you Anne!!! You're the Best!

So of course I got these beautiful flowers and I just had to use them on a card. Best thing is that I had already started coloring this up beforeI got them and they go perfectly.

Is this not the cutest image?? When Mo Manning released these BBW (big beautiful Woman) digi's I was pretty happy. I think they are adorable. I can see this one being used for a bday card for my hubby....or for a BFF...which is how I have used it. Of course when I saw this, I had to go on the hunt for a great sentiment because it's just one of those images that needs that. Ya know?

The Inside says " The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." Lucille Ball

I loved the qoute and thought this was a great girlfriend card. Can you just see her saying "Happy Birthday,  Darling." and then air kissing both sides of her cheek. Well if you don't sorry... that's what I see!!! hehe

Here's Anne's beauties again....oh and the blue things I made with wire and flower soft.

I colored this image with copic markers but I did do a little bit of highlighting with some Prisma color pencils in the dress. The matte is a the lacey square die from spellbinders. I cut out to and made it a rectangle so it would fit my long image. The papers are from My Minds Eye. The roses are handmade by ANNIEBEE. Check out her blog, she has some fabby things. I especially love the box she made with these gorgeous roses all over it! So pretty.

I know this post was long....but I have been so busy and my post lately have been rushed and tonight I am actually NOT rushed and had a few minutes to blabber!

Challenges:

Craft - Flowers

Charisma - Jokes/ Laughter (my sentiment is pretty funny..IMO)

Rubber Cafe  - Polka Dots

Cooking up w/Katie - Pink, flowers, for a lady

Spoonful of Sugar - Let's celebrate

Digi Tuesday - Pretty punches (flowers)

Papertake Weekly - Spots n stripes

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - Make it Sassy

Hugs,

North Pole Elves....

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!!!!!!  Sorry I have been on a bit of a hiatus....but "Tis the Season" to be busy!!!  What little time I have had I just haven't been in the coloring and card making mood, KWIM. I almost forgot that I had these too little cuties colored and never posted them. Figured today was the last day that I could do that.

I just LOVE these little guys. Aren't they the cutest bunch of Elves you've eva' seen!!!  Of course they are from Mo Manning, she is an exceptional artist. Mo Manning and Elisabeth Bell are my favorite illustrators. There images just make you smile.

Ingredients:

Copic markers

Primsa Color pencils

Martha Punches

Spellbinders Nesti for the circle

Ribbon (stash from Michaels)

Paper - ??

Stickles

Hard to see in the photos but they are all stickled up. I always seem compelled to add stickles to things. Don't know what it is...just something I do.  You see the present in the one elves hand....fingers crossed I think it may be a Spellbinders Grand.  I am hoping Santa is good to me this year!!! I mean, I sent him direct links of where to purchase it all...lol

Now I am off to start cooking for tomorrows dinner. I am making Italian.  So going to start the sauce today, it has to cook all day. Then I will get the stuffed shells ready. I usually do lasagna, but I am changing it up this year. I have a bunch of desserts to make also. Two desserts will go to my moms house for Christmas Eve celebration and then the rest will be at my place for tomorrows dinner. So here is my line-up for dinner:

Stuffed shells

Pasta w/meatballs

Homemade bread

Ricotta Pie

Red Velvet Trifle

Pumpkin Pie

Spin/Artichoke Dip

The only thing missing is Italian Wedding Soup. I always make way to much stuff, so I took that off the rotation this year. However, I will probably make some during the week. It's going to cool off a bit here again...so I will be wanting some warm soup!!

To end, I would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brings you everything you need or want. Most of all, enjoy your family and friends today. (and food, you can regret it after! thats my plan)

Merry Christmas,

Noel - Magnolia

*** If you are here looking for the Elisabeth Bell Blog Hop - It is 1 post below this one. Don't forget to leave  comments on all the DT's creations for your chance to win the newest Elisabeth Bell Image ***

Good Morning!  Last night my good friends, Lisette and Sam, came by to stamp with me. We never get a heck of a lot done (we mostly gab and eat! LOL) but I love when they come over. It's great, my little one leaves me alone so I can play because she has somebody to play with (Lisettes girls). We had 5 kids in the house last night, but they were great! Now the time before that, different story. I had invited the MIL to stamp with us, I think she couldn't get out of here fast enough. We told, here numerous times...we swear they usually aren't this loud and rowdy...really.  I don't think she believed us! Needless to say, they were great last night. So we had little interruptions which allowed me to get a full card made! ha!

But not this one...lol I did this one after my friends left. I have had the idea for this card since the day I got the Fall Kit, I just never had time to color her. I figured I better get her colored otherwise it will be another year! 

We got a Local Scrapbook Store in the area now...A Scrapbook Store and More. I will be teaching Copic Classes there starting January 6th!! yea!!!  I can't wait.  Anyways, I ran into the store other day and picked up these fabulous Graphic 45 papers. I love Graphic 45. There isn't a heck of a lot to the card. I started adding more embellishments but felt it didn't need it. I had flowers on it...I just liked it more simple. Sometimes more isn't always better. So I opted for a cleaner look. Agree?

I probably won't get much more done today. We are having a family day and going to dinner and to watch the boat parade at the marina with the in-laws. After all that, if it's not to late, we have plans to watch ELF or National Lampoons Christmas Vacation....great family movies! haha  Before I go, I thought I would share a recipe. I haven't been able to in the last few days so thought I would today.

 This is my great-grandmas recipe. My mom has been making these for years and now I do. Alot of people make simliar things and call them snowballs, or wedding cookies...and other names. We called ours Walnut Butter Balls.  There a little different because they have chocolate chips in them and they taste best when they are few days old. It's like the flavors mingle. Also, you will see why they are called BUTTER balls! LOL I swear, if I didn't know better I would have thought Paula Deen created this recipe! LOL

Walnut Butter Balls


7 cups Flour
3 ts. Rum extract
1 ts. Salt
8 ts. Cold water
3 cups Butter
2 – 12 oz. semi-sweet
2 cups powdered sugar
3 cups chopped nuts
2 – 12 oz. semi-sweet choc. chips
1 cup powdered sugar (to roll in)

Sift together flour and salt, set aside. Beat soften butter, gradually add powdered sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add rum extract and cold water. Beat well. Gradually add flour mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts. Mix well, shape into balls the size of a small walnut. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 25 mins. While still warm, roll into powdered sugar.

Challenges:
2 sisters- Twas the night b4 christmas
Dutch Dare - Christmas
Spoonful Of Sugar - Christmas
Tuesday Taggers - Christmas
Crazy Challenge- Christmas

Hugs,

Yummy Birthday Wishes - EB DT

So I will totally be MIA this week. But, before I go, I wanted to show you this sweet little image from Elisabeth Bell. She is called Sweet Sundae and you can purchase her in the Elisabeth Bell Digital Gallery.  The thing I love about digital images is that I can make them how big I want, I can merge them with another image or accessory. Best part, they only take up a little bit a room on my computer and no room in my craft room! ;-))  If you haven't tried one, you may be suprised at how much you like them.

I colored Sweet Sundae with Copic markers. I believe the greens were from the G20 family.  The oranges were YR00, YR02, YR04. I colored the background with Prisma color pencils. The sentiment is from Verve and all the papers are from Close to my Heart. Pretty simple card, not much else to it! 

So, I hit 100 followers and I am putting together my 100th Follower Blog Candy this week. I'm going to try to get it done and posted before I leave, but if not, when I get back I will be sure to get it up for you all. It's filled with lots of yummy things. Promise not to disappoint you! 

Another thing, did you know that Elisabeth has started her own Challenge blog??? You can use ANY of her images from all the different companies that carry her images. You can also use her digital images.  The Challenges run once a month. Be sure to check it out....  Elisabeth Bells World Challenge Blog

Challenges:

Sweet Stop Sketches - Sketch
Crafty Calendar - Birthdays
Paper Play - Blue, orange, green


Hugs,

Best Friends for life - Magnolia

Whew! I'm telling you this has been a busy, crazy last few weeks! I keep saying that, I know!  It's 9 p.m., I should be in bed reading my book, however I wanted to get this posted because I get antsy! hehe  Back to books, I am reading the series "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" I highly recommend it. What a great book. I am on book two now. Another great book is "The Help". Awesome!

This past weekend my husband and I had some us time and went to Orlando for the weekend. We went to Halloween Horror Nights on Thurs then on Friday we happened to be around I-Drive and there was a Zombie Fest. Oh my, that was interesting lol  Different, but very interesting. I tell ya. I'll post some pics after the card if anybody cares to see. ;-)  They actually stopped traffic on International Drive and walked it. These people really got into to. Some stayed in character the entire time. It was great.

Later that evening we went to Howl at the Moon. I love piano bars. It wasn't my favorite though. We use to have a great local one but it closed. Now there isn't anything around.  I love the one in Las Vegas at the Paris hotel, Napoleons. I can't remember the guys name, but he rocks. It could be that he is from my home of Ohio..hmm..;-)) By the way. GO BUCKEYES. They had a great game this weekend.

Now on to my card. I did buy this stamp, but it was on backorder. So I have to wait :-( So Sad. However, a good friend of mine was kind enough to give me a stamped image of it. :-))) I know it's called Brother and Sister however, when I first saw it, it reminded me of me and my husband. I thought it would make a PERFECT anniversary card. Unfortunately my anniversary isn't until May!! 12 yrs! ;-))  I made it anyways, not sure if I am going to sell this one or keep it until May..hrmm.

Isn't that qoute the sweetest???? When I saw it, I knew it would be perfect!

Inside - I thought it would be nice to circle the month and date on the little calendar thing. I didn't do it yet, because not sure if I am going to keep or sell.

So I colored the Maggie with Copic markers and the background is done with Prisma color pencils. Some of the shading on the dress is color pencils too. The paper is all from Close to my Heart. Trying to use up some of stashes. I have SOOOOO much CTMH paper. I printed the qoute and the sentiment. The little  "things that make me happy and the calendar" are all from the Notebook paper pack from CTMH. I distressed everything, because that's just how I roll. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

So here are some pictures from my Orlando Trip.

Happy Fall Ya'll

Ahhhh, awesome Saturday. The clouds are starting to roll in, may get a rain shower soon and I have no plans for most of the day! Yea! I love the sound of the rain but it makes me so sleepy. So I think I see a nap in my future!!  A few goody bags arrived in the mail the last 2 days and I couldn't wait to get one of them in particular inked up!  So then I tossed back and forth whether to color it with Distress Inks or copics...distress or copics.  I ended up coloring it in Copics, but stamped another one on watercolor paper to do a Distress inks version later on. 

Ok so seriously, I love this stamp. I really just love it. I grew up in Akron, Ohio. I now live in Florida. My favorite season hands down is Fall. However, I do not like Fall in Florida. Fall in Florida is miserable. By the time Fall is here you are so sick of the heat that when you wake up to 85-90 some degree weather it makes you sad! Especially when you see all your friends and family from back home doing "fall" things. Like going to kids games (with a light jacket on!), going to pumpkin patches (real ones, not in a church parking lot with pumpkins sitting on wood planks), going to apple orchards. I could go on and on, you see my point. I miss the changing of the leaves and I miss raking them up and jumping in them. Spiders? Bugs? nah...you didn't worry about that up north. Florida...I won't even walk in the grass barefooted!

Ok so enough rambling, now I am sad and want to go home for a visit!! :-(

So here are my card details. My Tilda is colored with Copic markers and prisma color pencils. I did some shading of the clothes and the background with the pencils. You can pick up this little beauty in Diana's shop over at Magnolia-licious. If Diana doesn't have something you want, let her know she will most definitely see what she can do. The paper is from My Minds Eye and CTMH. The flower is handmade from fabric. Stay tuned, I did a tutorial on it and will be posting that either tonight or tomorrow morning! ;-)  The sentiment is from Close to my Heart. 

This card falls into a few challenges. Some I am just making it in to!

Stamping Scrapping - Anything Goes

Everybody Art- Autumn

Creative Card Crew - Autumn

A spoon full of Sugar - Anything Goes

7 Kids College Fund - Sketch

Paper Sundaes - Fall

Cutie Sunday - Fall Colors

Thanks for looking