A Few Birthday Cards...

I rec'd so many birthday cards, that I will have to split this post up into two sections! One today, one *hopefully* tomorrow! This is the wreath that I rec'd from JudyB. She made it! It is so gorgeous, and the flowers look SO REAL! It is hanging in my kitchen!

And this is the card she made for me, and sent along with the wreath. I see some SU! Big Shot dies in my future, after seeing this card!

This is the card that Peter made for me! I came home from church, and there it was! I had a momentary lapse of a heartbeat, thinking of him digging through my "stuff" but it went away rather quickly when I realized how sweet and out of character this was for him!!


This is the card my friend Peggy made for me. She says she feels intimidated when she has to make me a card...I think she is nuts...I love the card, and the colors..so much work!!

So that is part one of my birthday goodies..tune in for more very soon!
Have a blessed Monday!
**Keri**

Go Ahead...Make My Day...

Can't you just tell that is what she is thinking? My poor baby got spayed on Monday, and needless to say, she is NOT happy about the E Collar..I take it off so she can eat, but she has proven that she cannot be trusted otherwise, so back on it goes, after eating time is over with. Trying to keep this one quiet and calm so she doesn't open the incision is an impossible task!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I have a bunch of pictures to share with you, of cards and gifts I received over the weekend. Hopefully, I will have them up this weekend!
Happy Friday!!
**Keri**

34!!

I am 34 today!! Check out this picture...some things never change, huh? Have a blessed Sunday!
**Keri**

Cards For Heroes

My friend, Lisa Renea, has been making cards for Cards For Heroes, for years now...I am ashamed to say, I have never made ANY!! She regularly posts on her blog about the organization, and recently posted info about a video regarding CFH. To visit LR's blog, {{click here}}. To visit the Cards for Heroes website, {{click here}}, and to see the 3 minute video about Cards for Heroes, {{click here.}}
After watching the video, and seeing the photos, I immediately started to plan a get together of all of my stamping friends, a card bee, to see how many cards we could make and send off to CFH. I haven't pinpointed an exact date yet, but the informational flyer is already being made, and I hope to hold the bee in the next month or so! I am so excited!!
Have a Blessed Friday!
**Keri**

Birthday Card

Good Thursday morning! I cannot *BELIEVE* it is Thursday already! It has been a very busy week, and it has just flown by! Sick daycare kids, running around for appointments and groceries, and helping out in the neighbor's sugarbush has tired me out!! I am still upright and going, though, so I guess all the walking I have been doing has conditioned me a little bit!
A dear friend of mine had a birthday last Friday, and I made this card for her. I hope she liked it!



Here is what I used:
Serene Spring retired hostess set from SU! (colored in with chalks)
SU! Bashful Blue, SU! Buckaroo Blue, and GP White Cardstock
Patterned blue hydrangea paper-unknown
Cuttlebug embossing folder-swiss dots
White sheer offray ribbon
SU! Basic Gray Inkpad
Nesties scalloped and regular circles

**Just a note to let you all know that I stocked the Country Life Store with a couple of new items, and I now am accepting Paypal Payments!**
** I also want to apologize as my blog visits have been NONE as of late. I plan on getting caught up and stopping by your blogs very soon!**
Have a Blessed Thursday!
**Keri**

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Okay, so it is LATE but it technically still IS St. Patrick's Day, so here is what I wanted to share with you today! Better almost late than never, right?
Here is my St. Patrick's Day card for 2009. I made about 10 of them. I always like to keep St. Pats cards simple for some reason. The color is garden green from SU!. I stamped the base with a linen background stamp, although it is hard to see in the pic. I punched a window hole through the bottom corner of the card front, and embellished it with other punch outs to kind of "frame" the window. I stamped the clover from Purple Onion Designs on a smaller punch on the inside, and colored it with prismacolors and sansodor. I used crystal effects to give it a raised up, shiny look.
Now here is my latest entry on the "how stupid could one person possibly be" list....I made 9 dozen shamrock sugar cookies on Saturday...Yeah...I did....I have to feed the whole neighborhood, half the church and my family, ya know...I do have to say, they were SO GOOD! You can find the recipes back in the Feb. 2009 entries. I even used tiny clover sprinkles on some of them!!

So there you have it. My contribution to St. Patty's, '09. I do have to add that I had my first ever corned beef tonight, and it was pretty good!! I ate it while in a steamy sugar house, covered in mud, sitting on a school bus seat, with a can of root beer between my knees, but the green mac and cheese and the green beans that went along with it, made it the perfect meal, no matter where I would have eaten it! Cody and I helped collect sap tonight, the old fashioned way, and I think my body is gonna be rebelling very soon if I don't get to bed!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
**Keri**

Early Birthday Gift...

I got such a nice surprise in the mail last week! I will be 34 on the 22nd, and some online friends of mine got together and sent me a care package full of goodies to learn needle felting! The craft has kind of taken over our online group, and the little animals that are being made are just adorable! I was responsibly trying to NOT start this new craft, as my room is already busting at the seams, as is my brain--from learning beginners crochet last fall, and the upcoming knitting lessons from my Mom..(HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN, MA!) Not to mention the added expense when Cody is going through all this oral surgery/orthodontia mess. Leave it to TINA and ANNIE to enable me to in the quest. They thought I would be great at it, I HAD to try it, and they HAD to be the ones to get me the supplies. Well, the box was a welcome sight on a less than stellar day, and I so appreciate their generosity!! ENABLERS!! You can click on their names to visit their blogs. Tina has a HUGE love for bunnies, like me--in fact, that is how I first met her years ago, before we even belonged to the same online group. I saw a bunny stamp she had used an hunted her down and made her tell me where she got it! LOL! She has some cute felted items on her blog, and in her Etsy store. Annie just learned how to knit a sweater in a weekend, and she also does some gorgeous freehand drawing on her cards...Check em out!!
I am putting the finishing touches on my first felted project, and I will post it soon.. I also have a second project in the works. So THANK YOU very very much, Annie and Tina, for you generostiy, it is so very appreciated!!



Have a blessed Thursday!
**Keri**

Brodie Blue

I have a new layout to share with you today! I finished it one evening last week. When I got this set of papers from my Secret Sister, I knew that this photo would work well with them! The photo of Brodie was taken the same time I took the Christmas Card picture of her and Cody. If I hold a tennis ball in my hand along with the camera, I can get her to sit still and get some great shots! The photo was printed at www.scrapbookpictures.com, where I was able to apply a couple of cute borders.

Here is what I used:
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye "Be Merry"
Cardstock: SU! Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze
Felt Snowflakes: SU! from the Holiday Mini (they came in blue, red, and white, and I am SO HAPPY I sprung for them. Tons came in a package, and they are gorgeous!
Chipboard: My Minds Eye Blue Sparkle Letters
Tab: My Minds Eye "Be Merry"
Well, the weekend is gone--somewhere--and another week is beginning. It is snowing here, we are supposed to get 1-3 inches, so no biggie. Errands to run in town today, daycare most of the week, and Brodie has a vet appointment tomorrow to set her up for her spaying. It will be a busy week!
I did get some work done outside on Saturday, and my hubby took me on a date Saturday night. It was so nice! It was a nice weekend, and I hope the nice weather continues very soon!
Have a blessed week!
**Keri**

Winner!!

The winner of the Cuttlekids set is Judy! You can check out her blog HERE. Congrats Judy! Judy is a close friend of mine, and also my SU! Demonstrator! I will get it out to you directly, Judy!
Yes, my Grandmother is Omi. Her name is Naomi but Cody shortened it, and it stuck!!

Now, in honor of this beautiful day, and also because I just got home from church and passing out these things of beauty--say hello to our church's new directory!! We were long overdue for one, and my friend Peggy and I took on the challenge. After many, many months of work and distraction, we finally completed them Friday night! We gathered everyone's contact information, compiled it into book form, along with birthdays and anniversaries, and a prayer chain. We printed the text of the covers on white cardstock, and then a group ladies-Peggy, my Mom, Diane (Pastor's wife), Lynne, and I all stamped all of the 100 covers with SU! Roses in Winter stamp set. It was time consuming, but oh, so worth it! Peggy then cut them, and bound them with a static cover for protection from marks and water! Everyone this morning at church loved them!
The top photo is of the roses in pink-the one I chose for myself. You can see how we stamped the sheet of cardstock up the middle, and across the bottom. All of the covers were stamped BEFORE they were cut.

Here is a pic of the 100 directories, in the 8 different colors we used. Which color do you like the best??

A big thanks to all my ladies, who helped us out, so much!! We are DONE, Peg!!
Have a blessed Sunday,
**Keri**

FRIDAY!! Some new cards...

IT'S FRIDAY!!! IT'S FRIDAY!!! IT'S FRIDAY!!! IT'S FRIDAY!!! IT'S FRIDAY!!! IT'S FRIDAY!!!

It has been a long time since I was THIS excited for a Friday. And I don't even have any plans for the weekend! It has been a LONG week here, for Peter and for me. Peter has been stripping old shingles and putting a new shingled roof on his boss's house--bless his boss for trying to keep his men working as long as possible-his house is on Lake Champlain, and Peter is on his 5th day on the roof. The first few days were wicked cold-like nearing zero, highs in the teens. So between the cold, and the stress he is putting on his body walking and standing on a roof for 10 hours a day, he has about had it! His hands are cracked and really painful. His hands are always terrible, but worse than usual. He expects to be done the roof today!!

I have had an unusually busy week with my daycare. I usually have all of my kids part time, but circumstances allowed for me to have them all full time this week--I am SO not used to it!! I usually have a day off here or there to regroup!! I would love full time much better--I thrive on a strict schedule! I have even managed to get up and walk on the treadmill before the kids come each morning!

I did manage to get my craft room cleaned up this week, and have had a very productive week, I got some personal crafting done, as well as new items for my Etsy shop.

Here are three cards that I made this week:
This first one is a twist on one I did last fall-this time I used popsicles (Purple Onion Designs) in place of the balloons from the last one. Each popsicle was colored in using Prismacolors and Sansodor, they were then outlined with a clear Stardust Pen, and I topped them off with Crystal Effects. I also embossed the white background piece with a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.
Colors used:
SU! Black, Orchid Opulence, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, YoYo Yellow, Only Orange, Pixie Pink, GP White.

This next one I made for my manly man card stash. I used SU! Retired stamp set Wildfowl. Premade brown card base. Patterned Paper is BG and I punched the circles out and ran them through my Xyron X. I refrained from ribbon--although the thought did cross my mind, I thought less was more on this masculine card!

Colors Used:
Bashful Blue
Buckaroo Blue
GP White
Creamy Caramel
Chocolate Chip and Vintage Photo inkpads
SU! Circle Punches

The last card I made, uses some new patterned paper I just rec'd. It is called raspberry tart from SU! The stamp set was a SU hostess set called Serene Spring. I embossed the background with Swiss Dots embossing folder in my Cuttlebug, and punched a scalloped border on the edge.
Colors Used:
Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, GP White
The image was stamped in Basic Gray and colored in using Prismacolors and Sansodor.
Scalloped squares are Cuttlebug Dies, and Happy Spring Sentiment is Purple Onion Designs



Thanks for stopping by, and have a blessed weekend!

**Keri**

My Favorite Things, Part 2!

In honor of a couple of new items in my ETSY STORE, I thought I would share another one of my favorite things, and give something away!! I added two sets of scrapbook embellishments to my shop this morning, and I hope you go check them out! I do want to add that I hope to have paypal up and running by the weekend! Here is a sneak peek:


Today's favorite thing is what I used to make my latest Etsy Item. Cuttlekids dies! Although made to work in the Cuttlekids Machine, they also work in the Cuttlebug machine, and the animal ones are SO CUTE!! They are so cute to use on cards, scrapbook pages, bookmarks, etc. The one I have to give away today, in honor of Favorite Things Day, is Xavier the Monkey. If you are interested in taking Xavier in, to your home, check out the give away instructions below the pic!

If you want to be entered in a drawing for this set of Cuttlekids dies, which will work in the Cuttlebug-leave a post, and tell me in that post, the name that my family uses for my dear Grandmother, who is now in the nursing home. She is doing well, by the way--readers inquire about her often-despite 3 quarantines at the nursing home this winter, she has evaded sickness so far!!
I will take comments until Saturday night, and post the winner on Sunday, March 8th.
Have a great day!
**Keri**

My Latest Work...

Good Morning! I hope everyone's Monday went well! I have a couple of pics of my latest commissioned work to share with you. The top one is a single slate SHINGLE, probably approx. 11x14 inches. I took the photo BEFORE I added the protective spray and rawhide hanger. I was asked to paint this specific slate, for a wedding present. The bride and groom are from Canada, and the United States! I have done primitive variations of the American Flag, but this is the closest I have ever gotten to the ACTUAL American Flag, and this is my first attempt of any kind of Canadian Flag! Everyone was pleased with it!

This second one is a simple house number slate shingle. I can do them in any number, or color! It measures approx. 5x10".

That is it from here, today! I am full up with daycare kids for today, and hope to get some more stuff ready to put up in my Etsy shop. I should be accepting Paypal payments in another week!
Thanks for all the support,
**Keri**

Thanks, Mom!!

Hello! Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!! We made a trip to the city to get some groceries and order a new rifle. It was a nice, stress free, weekend!
I though this morning, that I would showcase a couple of crafters in my family, my hubby, and my Mom!
My Mom knits. For as long as I can remember she has been knitting. Now, however, it is difficult for her to do bigger projects, because she has arthritis in her hands really bad. She makes little Christmas tree ornaments, and baby booties, for the majority of her projects. But she has made hats, mittens, blankets, scarves, etc. All through my childhood, she made our slippers. Just a glorified bigger size of the baby booties. They were the BEST slippers ever! Well, my last pair, that was probably at least 5 years old, had a giant hole in one foot, and an almost hole in the other foot. I finally got the courage to ask Mom for a new pair-the old " If I buy the yarn, will you make me a new pair, pleasie?" line--all the while batting my eyelashes and being on my best behavior--which is still a trial at 33!! I got the yarn back at Christmas time, and left it and told her to take her time, I was in no hurry. Well, I dropped her off at her house on Friday night after a night out, and what was sitting on her kitchen counter waiting for me??? Yay!!

I was like a kid at Christmas!! It has been so long since I had a new pair! Do you like the colors I chose? THANKS, MOM!! They are beautious!! I have a problem, though...They are SO pretty and SO perfect that I don't want to mess them up!! Ten minutes in this house and they will never be the same! I told Mom that she either had to make me a lifetime supply of slippers or teach me how to make them myself. Peter suggested a giving her a cartful of yarn and a couple bottles of Aleve and letting her go at it, but she didn't think that would work. The LOVE of a son in law, huh? So, Mom has very nicely said that she will teach me how to knit!! She has tried in the past, with little success, but I was younger and not very ambitious. I am quite excited, and very focused on doing this. That way, I can make everyone slippers for Christmas!! Wish me luck!!
Now, believe it or not, my macho, wilderness loving, mountain man looking hubby, is actually a bit creative and crafty!! Of course, all roads lead to hunting and outside in his world, so his craftiness does have to do with dead animals, as does everything else, but check these out!!



The top pic is of horns that were too small to mount the entire head. He cut the plaques out, mounted the horns on a scrap off wood, shaped the drywall mud into a perfect mound, covered with fabric, and mounted it on the plaque! I did paint the black edging-so I had a tiny part in it. He is the wall painter, I am the fine painter!! The arrow shaped one he killed WITH his bow.
Now, there is also another stage in deer head display. Too big for just horns on a plaque, but still too small to get the entire head mounted. The top skull was done by the taxidermist. But it still costs a LOT of money, just to get the skull. So Peter did the second one, himself! I won't get into the gorry details, lets just say, it is done OUTSIDE and not in the house. They both look pretty much identical! Peter then got a pattern for the slate, and cut the slate out, and mounted the skull on the slate backing!! He is pretty proud of his craftsmanship, as he should be! He did a great job!
So that is it from here!! I hope everyone has a blessed Monday, and entire week!
**Keri**