More from CHA, the Joys of Glimmer Mist...and Birthday Memories...

Good evening, everyone!  Sorry I haven't gotten back here in a couple of days....things have been so busy, but I'm here now!  This is going to be a long post, so grab a big cup of hot chocolate & get comfy...here we go!

First of all, I wanted to show you some more photos I took at CHA.  I focused on Crafty Secrets the other day, and these are all of other booths that really appealed to me--so much gorgeous stuff all around! 

...Tim Holtz

...can't remember what this one was....but we LOVED that vintage pink typewriter!

...oh, so much fun!

...Yellow Bicycle

...Die Cuts With a View

...can't remember who this was, but it was so pretty!

...Pink Paislee

...Melissa Frances

...GCD

...and our wonderful neighbors, Tattered Angels!  What a wonderful bunch of people they are!  I so enjoyed getting to know many of them...they helped us with ladders & waters when we were exhausted, invited us to their house for a fabulous taco dinner, and sweetly gave me a bag full of delicious Glimmer Mist on the last day---now that's being neighborly!  (Thanks so much!)

Here's a card I made today using that kind gift of Glimmer Mist--I wanted to do another card with Crafty Secrets' new "Mermaids" set--I love it so much!  I used various Glimmer Mists in greens/blues/turquoises/ purples/ to make my background...

I LOVE this image--isn't she beautiful?  I don't think my background shows up very well--but it really turned out pretty and shimmery--I stamped the image again on another piece of white cardstock and sprayed it with gold/yellows/candlelight Glimmer Mists--then used watercolor pencils to shade certain areas of the stairs...

I love using watercolor pencils--gives me so much control over detail and blending--stamped the mermaid again on white and cut her out and placed her on the steps...

...added a bit of lovely Flower Soft to the flowers on her beautiful hair---then had to add some Pearl Stickles, of course!  I love this aqua lace--perfect for my mermaids!  Lastly, I lightly sprayed over the whole card with the gorgeous "Iridescent Gold" Glimmer Mist...yummy!

Next,  an adorable Little Bo Peep from the Storybook Vintage Postcard Kit by Crafty Secrets...one of my favorites!

These postcards are so fun & easy to do--not too hard to make them look good!  I added some soft pink pom-pom trim, some chunky silver glitter...

...green gingham ribbon, green crystal rhinestones...and we're just about done! I couldn't resist adding a few drops of lemony yellow Stickles to her daisy garland...

...a cute little "stamp" for an accent--that's it!  (Well, except for spraying this with Iridescent Gold, too!)

Yesterday was my birthday...48...yikes!  Time's flying!  It was a rather sober birthday, as we spent most of it at a heartbreaking funeral for the nineteen-year-old son of our very dear friends.  But, the day was filled with much faith, hope and love.  Really makes you remember what's most important in life, and not to take anything--or anyone--for granted.  Thanks to all who left me such sweet birthday wishes both here and elsewhere!

Today is another very special day that I'd like to share.  This would be my Grandpa Smith's 100th birthday--hard for me to believe!  He has been gone for about 28 years now...but he is still so alive to me...doesn't ever seem like he's very far away...

My sweet grandfather, Rudger, on the left...I love this picture!  I learned so much from him in my life, and I just wanted to honor him by remembering a few of those things...

The twinkle I always saw in his eyes when I was with him told me that I was loved for just being me...

He always called me "my Jewels"...

He taught me that none of us are perfect (although I always thought that he was!); we all make mistakes, and it's so important to do all we can to fix them, and move on...

He taught me to always try to help others in whatever way I could...

He taught me a great love and respect for those who came before me and made me who I am.  He loved to tell me stories of our family long gone, of happy childhoods, sad losses, joys and pains...and I learned and I remembered, and I try to teach these same stories to my children...

Happy Birthday, Grandpa.  I love you.