Calendar Girls...and My Very Own Badge!

Good afternoon, my friends!

What a wonderful day it's been for this girl, and it's going full-blown, non-stop till I hit my head on the pillow...who knows when tonight!  Hope your day has been great, as well!

Just a couple of things to share with you today really quick, then off to pick up my girls...

First off, this week's challenge over at Splitcoast is to use a calendar in our cards...I was having a tough time with this, so here's what I came up with...

...I used this GORGEOUS image from Crafty Secrets' "Seasonal" Images & Journal Notes booklet, and then stamped the April 2010 with stamps from their "Calendar" stamp set---just what I wanted for this!  So, not a calendar exactly, but....a slight variation thereof!

Aren't they beautiful?!  Just enjoying a beautiful spring day...one has her camera in hand, like so many of us bloggers do...just waiting for a special moment to capture...

Lots of pretty papers, glitter, lace and ribbon on this one...that's about it!

Now, THIS was fun to do!

A month or so ago, Elizabeth of Creative Breathing was inspired by a beautiful name tag--or blog tag--that Laurie of Magpie Ethel created for her blog. 

Elizabeth made one for herself, and challenged any of us who wanted, to play along!  Well, I finally got my chance!

I showed my daughters some images I loved, and asked them to choose one that they thought represented me...and they chose this one.  I love everything about this one, so I was happy to proceed!  The images are from Crafty Secrets' "Altered Fairies" Creative Scraps--one of my very favorites!

I got a bit gaudy with the glitter...I do realize this...but there's really nothing I can do about it!  I've just got an addiction--there--I said it!...and I'm running with it!

I guess this little vintage pocket watch says it all for me..."Follow after your Bliss..." 

Sounds like good advice to me!

Hope your day is magical, blissful, and everything else you wish for!

I'll see you soon with something new!

***Piney Rose is offering a beautiful tussie mussie in her blog giveaway...stop by and say hello!***

A Splash of Orange...and a Beautiful Dreamer...

Good afternoon, everyone!

It's a blustery day here in California...where'd the sun go?!  Oh, well...we do need the rain!  Hope it's been a good day for all of you...

I have a couple of cards to share with you today.  I've been having so much fun with altered fairies...there's just so many possibilities!

Here's my first...made for this week's Play Date Cafe' challenge...black & white with a SPLASH of orange...

...I think I did a bit more than a splash...I landed in the orange puddle!  This was so fun--felt like Halloween!  This adorable fairy is from Cafe Retro Art--Kristin has created so many fabulous digital images--lots to choose from!

Love this adorable fairy--so different with it's bird's egg body--love all the digitally added roses!  All I did was add some Dazzling Diamonds, LOTS of Platinum & Black Stickles, (I got a bit dotty!), some lace, ribbon, and that's about it!

Next, one of my favorite images from Crafty Secrets' "Altered Fairy" Creative Scraps--SO many wonderful images on these sheets!  Here's my card:

Vicki Chrisman gave me a bunch of these wonderful scallop-edged cards when we were at CHA--I love them!  (Thanks, Vicki!)  The frame is from Crafty Secrets' Sweet Chips Square Album & Frames set....I gave it a healthy dose of mica for a gorgeous chunky shimmer! 

So glad I happened to have just the right shade of old pink lace in my stash--sometimes we just get lucky, don't we?!  The "Beautiful Dreamer" sheet music image is one I found online...and the fabulous beaded branch--don't you love that?!--this is part of the new "bling" that Crafty Secrets will be selling soon! 

Once again...tons of Platinum Stickles, lace, soft white ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, and a lovely little crystal rhinestone... 

Speaking of "Beautiful Dreamer"...did you know it was the last song the legendary Stephen Foster wrote?  It wasn't even printed until after his death.  Sad, isn't it? 

It's always been one of my favorites...Such a haunting and enduring folksong...and he didn't ever know how it touched so many...He was so young.  It is written that when he died, he was only 37 years old and had only 38 cents in his pocket...

I love the lyrics of this beautiful song...


Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!


Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea
Mermaids are chanting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

(Words & Music By Stephen Foster)

Until next time...Sweet Dreams!

My Dear Friend Marie...

Good morning, my friends!

What a lovely spring Sunday it is here in central California...the sun is out, the blossoms are blooming and fragrant, the air is sweet....perfection!

Today I want to share one of the most beautiful people I've met in this wonderful bloggy world we all love so much....Marie.

I first found her site on the Gooseberry Patch sidebar when I was still very new to blogging...as soon as her page filled my screen, I knew I would love Marie...

This woman is a wonder, I tell you!  She is an amazing chef, daily sharing the most wonderful recipes I've ever seen...

Here's last night's decadent morsel...Tres Leches Cake...YIKES!

Hurry over to The English Kitchen and grab that recipe!  (Come right back, though!)  Her recipe for turkey provided us with one of the yummiest Thanksgiving dinners ever!  (Thanks, my friend!)  Now, whenever I serve up a new recipe for dinner, my girls often ask, "Is this a 'Marie'?" 

Not only does Marie cook like the most domestic of goddesses, she makes the most adorable dolls...

...aren't those the sweetest little faces?  Here's where you can find her dolls...

Marie is also an artist--she draws the most wonderful characters!  A while ago, she asked if I would mind making some cards with her images--what a thrill!  Here they are...

This is one of my favorites, because it just feels like Marie to me...in fact, that sweet little face is her "calling card", if you will...her icon.

All her images are beautifully hand-drawn and colored so richly...I just added some lace, ribbon, and glitter, of course!

...and these flowers, which were so fun to make!  I even just happened to have the most perfect vintage buttons for their centers!  I topped them with some nice chunky glitter, then sprayed "Sunflower" Glimmer Mist over them...perfect! 

And this one...

...I chose this one because she's baking, of course!  Love the sweet faces and features of her characters!

...always with rosy cheeks and happy smiles...

She has also begun selling her images as digital stamps, which you can find here...and here's just a snippet of one to show you how sweet they are...

Adorable, right?!

Well, that's all for today...I hope you have a wonderful Sunday...enjoy the beautiful spring air...and please go and meet Marie...I guarantee you will love her as much as I do!

See you soon with something new!