I'm BAAAACCKKK (please help me decide on a Christmas card!)

Okay, I'm reminded why I quit with the daily posting...I have spent the last twenty minutes trying to upload photos of twelve cards but it's just not working!

In my last post I said I was deleting this blog.  However!  A couple of days later I was asked to take part in a blog hop after Christmas so I've decided to keep it open.  Crafting and posting isn't a priority in my life right now...I'm trying to focus more energy on some studies for the Counselor Ministry program I'm involved in as well as paying more attention to our diet and exercise (I've become a little on the sloppy about those things over the past year.) And my husband has been encouraging me to spend more time writing so I've been devoting a little more time to my other blog. I haven't completely given up on crafting, though.  I'm working on a couple of card orders (the final ones I will be taking for awhile) and I have been working (along with Alyssa) on Christmas cards but haven't decided yet what I want to make in bulk.  Typically I make about 80-90 Christmas  cards so I need a simple design.  I have made about 30 and was hoping to share 12 with you to get your feedback...but for some reason I can't upload more than these four.  Maybe I'll try again later, but for now I'm not wasting any more time!

card one: star of wonder

Card two: dove Christmas wishes with buttons

Card Three: Jesus is the Reason

Card Four: Snow Globe (not sure why I couldn't get this card to flip.  Must be I have been out of blogland too long because uploading photos is different now and I can't figure it out!)

Okay, three more cards just loaded:

Card Five:  Red/blue Merry Christmas w/bird

Card Six: Merry Christmas with snowman

And card seven: juniper/brown Merry Christmas with bird.

Whew - that took up way too much time!
Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a :-)

OCC and ABC

At about 9 PM tonight,in typical Marie fashion, I decided to make my husband's birthday card...his 50th birthday is tomorrow! I used the ABC: H is for hidden challenge and the OCC challenge for the birthday card. You really should check out the creations on both of these sites - they are incredible!

The pirate card is a masculine birthday card to add to my stash.  Masculine cards are so challenging for me!

I made the pattern for this baby card while visiting my sister this summer but just now added the finishing touches to it!

One of my friends asked me yesterday if I was still keeping my craft room organized...she knows me too well!  I am pleased to say, despite making 20 cards this weekend, it is STILL ORGANIZED!  This friend also gave me a great tip - she has a "to be put away" bin where she puts all of the stuff she's using into and then when she's done she can just take the bin and put everything away. I so love that idea - ususally I have everything scattered all over the place.

Well, my pictures loaded in a very strange way tonight so I hope this posts okay.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marie with a :-)

CPS and a productive day

I had a very productive evening in my newly organized craft space - I made quite a number of cards, with the help of my daughter, Alyssa.I won't post them all, but here's a few. The first couple are using the quick and easy CPS Sketch. The inside of the first one reads: Wishing you loads of fun on your special day.

Same card with the tag out

For all those who commented on all the stuff in my craft room...there's almost TOO much in here but I haven't figured out how to downsize! Prior to the last few weeks, everything that I have made in card sales, and as a CTMH consultant, I have put right back into supplies. And my sister Samantha, who is no longer a CTMH consultant but abandoned ship for Stampin up! (love you, Sam!) passed on ALOT of her CTMH stuff to me.

Unscripted 30 and an Organized Craft Room!

Last night I decided to attack the Craft Room. Unlike my sister Samantha , I am NOT an organized crafter. (Remember my Where in the world? post?) Though not a fancy "studio" like many of my fellow bloggers have, I was pretty pleased with the results. And it was a very timely organizing, because this morning I got a message from one of my besties saying she had time for coffee...so we spent a few hours in the craft room, having a heart to heart and then making a card. Before she came, I completed a quick version of the Unscripted Challenge.

The inside of this reads "May your day bubble over with fun!"I haven't quite figured out the Picasso Photo program - even though this picture was cropped on the program, it's not showing up as cropped so you will need to click on the photo for details. I soo love the "Life is a Jungle" CTMH stamp set - it is so versatile!This is what my (basement) craft room looks like from the doorway. When I showed Scott how organized it was, he said "Yes, but how long will it last?" Then I showed Alyssa and she said "Better take some pictures!" Like Father Like Daughter? Gotta love 'em.
Computer desk with handmade desk set on top.
Shoe organizers are a trick I learned from my friend Theda.
Shelf where I store my hundreds of instock cards.
Largest punches and lots of embellies.
Old nail sorter of my hubbies makes a great craft room bin!

Large stamp sets hung on wall.


My "way-too-many" stamp stash.
Flowers, buttons and misc.

Thanks for stopping by!

Marie with a :-)

PS I have reached the "over $1K" in card sales since I began selling them in April. Happy Dance :-)

Unscripted!

Even though I'm on somewhat of a craft-blog sabbatical, I thought I'd take a few minutes to complete an Unscripted Sketch challenge. This card was made with a particular friend in mind:Until next time...

Marie with a :-)

Autumn

For this card, I combined Unscripted 27 and Penny's Challenge. The funny thing is when I saw "autumn theme" for Penny's challenge I stopped reading...I was happy because autumn is my favorite time of year...and didn't noticed that it said "must include a tree." LOL In case you can't tell, the tree on the inside was an after thought. I've included a couple of haikus I quickly jotted down about my favorite time of year. Once again, thanks for stopping by - I appreciate you!

My Season
Autumn watlzes in,
dancing to the music of
anticipation.


Autumn
Changing, letting go,
an expectant synonym.
Death brings me new life.


Hoping you are enjoying this wonderful season,
Marie with a :-)

THANKSGIVING

I created a few more Thanksgiving Day cards. This first one uses the The Sweet Shop Sketch and includes a Sweet -n -Sassy scripture on the inside. If you are looking for scripture stamps, check them out! I also think this card fits the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge #7 because I think changing leaves and fall foliage SHOUT the majesty of God. The following two use the Mojo Monday Sketch which I had a very difficult time with!

The last four were quick cards using scraps.

Hope you are taking time to dwell on those things that you are thankful for...sure makes for a happy heart!

Marie with a :-)

CPS 136

I thought it might be a good idea to have some Thanksgiving Day cards on hand when I have my card sale in a little over a week...so I used the CPS 136 sketch to whip up these three cards:

As I was making these, I was "counting my blessings" and realized that I could go on and on and on...here's a few that came to mind (in no particular order)

1. Gorgeous Colorado weather

2. Start of GraceLife Advanced Training

3. A wonderful husband

4. Laughter

5. Friendships

6. Taste buds!

7. Being able to be an "at home" mom.

8. A craft room!

9. Crocs

10. The knowledge that my Creator and Savior is always in control :-)

Hope your weekend has been filled with blessings too numerous to count!

Marie with a :-)

Challenging Get Wells...

As I posted yesterday, I have quite a number of christian get well cards to finish today. I completed one before going to Matthew's soccer game and two more afterwards. This first one is for the Sweet Shop challenge which included both a sketch AND a color challenge. While I didn't use any Sweet-n-Sassy stamps on the outside of this card, I did use a scripture from the set #10 Trust in the Lord on the inside.
At first I was thinking I wouldn't complete the 365 Cards challenge because I don't believe in luck, until I checked out the "luck" symbols and discovered praying hands is one such symbol. Now I don't believe in luck, but I DO believe in the power of prayer so here is my take:

This last card wasn't for any challenge...just using up some scraps that were sitting around. I still have five to ten more cards to finish today so no more rambling :-). Thanks for taking a peek...I so appreciate all of the kind comments.
Marie with a :-)

Get Well Marathon... (lots of pics)

I received an e-mail from my step MIL yesterday telling me she was ready for another round of Get Well cards. She has purchased quite a number from me in the past because she sends all of the Get Well cards for her (small) church. I decided I would try to make twenty for her before we see her on Sunday evening...what was I thinking? Tomorrow Matthew has a soccer game and we are having company for lunch after church on Sunday so I really SHOULD clean my house and decide on a menu. I did make seven cards today, though. Maybe I'll squeeze in another seven tomorrow? The rest I'll just have to pull from my stash. Feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge. Enjoy your weekend...


I really love these jungle animals from Close To My Heart...they are so versatile!

(inside of card)

Marie with a :-)