LAST WORD ON VALENTINES!

 Good morning once again!  A little giggle before I post the last of my Valentine samples:

My daughter and I are going to the hospital today and she will have a chat with her Oncologist and then have her daily radiation.  We can be at the hospital every day anywhere from 40 minutes to 7 hours depending on her treatment for that day.  While I wait for her, I often have to use the porta-potties because the hospital does not let anyone else in the hospital ... just employees and patients.  So, I've become real friendly with the potties "around the corner" and in the hospital parking lot!  This experience has been most unpleasant ... not only because that's the nature of these potties, but because every time I use one the truck pumping company somehow appears right in front of the stall I am using, blocking the door, and ready to pump!  I know you are laughing, but seriously, this is no joking matter as I fear my life might be in danger!  LOL ... now I'm laughing.  I have no idea why they seem to come every time, but even yesterday, I used the potty and then got in my car to leave the parking lot and pick up Lori, at the front of the hospital, and low and behold, the truck appeared behind my car and I couldn't back out!  Needless to say, it was a "crappy" day for both Lori and I.  :-)

Here are some happier moments as I share a beautiful card from my Design Team Buddy Barbara and finally my Valentine cards! 

Barbara's beautiful embossed card.

Here are my samples using LI's Cut Outs from their Valentine Release:

I really enjoyed these Cut Outs and my cards all came together really quick!  The Cut Outs are still available at LI and I think they work well for all occasions.  Try some!   Happy embossing.  :-)  Donna

MORE VALENTINES

Good morning once again.  Yesterday (and every Wednesday) is a long day for my daughter and I because not only does she have her radiation, but she also has chemo!  So, we are at the hospital for about 7 hours.  Did I mention it's a very long day! Nonetheless, here are some additional Valentine ideas that I did not get posted yesterday!  These first few are from a long time craft friend of mine ... in England!

Love Tag L9272 and L9455.

Rolled Roses Tag L9379 and L9452.

And these Valentines are from Karie:

Thank you Sharon and Karie for these wonderful, "heartfelt" ideas.  Tomorrow I hope to post some of my Cut Outs from Lasting Impressions' Valentine Release.  And BTW, have you seen their "Green" Release?  Karie says she has already started on those ideas.  Oh my ... I simply cannot keep up with that girl.  LOL   Until tomorrow, happy embossing wherever your heart takes you.  :-) D

MY DAUGHTER'S CARDS

Good morning!  I thought my daughter Lori might enjoy putting together LI's recent Valentine Release Kits and boy did she shine!  She has been undergoing chemo and radiation and I wasn't quite sure if she would be up to crafting.  However, I think you will agree, she did a fabulous job.  Here is a look at her cards:

I have more Valentines coming!  See you tomorrow.  :-) Donna

A MOTHER'S LOVE

Good morning!  I'd like to tell you a short version of why I've been absent!  I am a mom of 3 beautiful, wonderful, adult children.  My youngest had some very serious surgery in November 2020 and is recovering from that surgery here with us in San Diego.  She is now facing radiation and will be with us for the next two months.  If you are a mom, then you know that it's so very hard to watch your child, no matter what age, suffer and be in pain.  You find yourself wishing you could take that child's place.  Having my daughter with us has been a blessing on so many levels and the one I am addressing at this moment is the level of love a mother has for her child.  I am so very proud of my daughter and I am cherishing each and every moment we have together while she travels this very difficult road to recovery.

I am reminded of a card I made so many years ago.  It was for Mother's Day and while my own mom passed away many years ago, I taught this technique using a Mother's Day theme in one of my classes.  My daughter and I just found this card, in a shoe box of a million cards "I've just got to save (ha, ha)," and it gave me the opportunity to tell Lori how honored I am to be her mother.

This card technique is called a "Flip Card."  As you open each "level," you display another version of the card until you have flipped it 3 times ... to the end!  I hope you will enjoy seeing my card once again and maybe be inspired to send someone a card of love to your mom, your daughter, your son, or a friend who might love knowing you are thinking of them.  I am wishing you all an amazing day and I thank those who have been so sweet to send cards, prayers, and love to my daughter.  With hugs, love and joy, :-)  Donna

HAPPY NOVEMBER

 

Kaye's embossed Thanksgiving Card using LI Templates.

Happy November everyone.  I can hardly believe how fast this year has gone by and don't we all look forward to a healthier new year.  This month's card ideas will be a fall theme and here are just a few from Kaye to get us thinking in that direction:

I love how Kaye used this fall looking card as a sweet Thank you card.  And here is another one she did as a get well card and equally as sweet!

Kaye's Get Well Card using LI Templates.  I love the square pumpkins and the colors are so warm and wonderful.  Here's a couple of old ideas from me:

Donna's Happy Fall Crow.

Donna's stand up Thankful Card made from Kaye's Fall Card Kit.

Donna's Perfect Pumpkin.

Okay Design Team ... let's see what you can do!  "Start your engines" ... hmmmmm ... I mean, "Pick up those stylus," and get embossing!  With much embossing joy, I wish you all an awesome day!  :-) Donna

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 

Donna's Halloween Card using Cut Outs from Lasting Impressions.
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Happy Halloween everyone (tomorrow!).  I managed to do a couple of cards to send to family and close friends (using the LI Idea Book for inspiration) and I will say that the late release of LI's Halloween Cut Outs and papers really made it a very easy task but, I did have to hurry to get them done it time!  I really like the one I did above which is layered and distressed with Distress Ink from Tim Holtz.  Here are a couple more I managed to complete and I hope they will inspire you to make some next year! 

Next month's theme is all about Fall and Thanksgiving.  Hmmmmm, guess that means more pumpkins, right?   Embossing joys and candy treats, :-)  Donna.

Donna's Bats!  Isn't this one fun?  I love the LI plaid paper that came out a couple of years ago and I've used it often ... not just for Halloween.  It's perfect for this card and I love the googly eyes on the bigger bats.  I used Ranger Black Stickles Glitter Glue for the smaller bat's eyes.  I'm batty for this card!  :-)

Donna's Bugs & Hisses.  This is the one my daughter Lori liked the best.  Being a cat lover, she loved the whimsey look of this cat and the sentiment.  So cute!

Donna's Pumpkins straight from LI's Idea Book!  The pumpkins are layered and stained with Distress Ink from Tim Holtz.  Of course, I had to add my 3 ink dots!

Donna's Candy Corn using LI Cut Outs.  I love this one!  I used Glossy Accents to make the orange layer pop and added my 3 dots as a final touch.  Easy peasy card!

Donna's Hocus Pocus Halloween card!  Who doesn't love a good witch hat and this card was so easy to do.  I used Ranger Stickles Glue Glitter on the purple band and Glossy Accents on the pumpkin to make them pop.  I also used Stickles Black Glue Glitter for the bat's eyes!  Ohhhhhhh, oh so scary!  :-)

LUCKY ME!

 

Good morning everyone!  October is my birthday month and I've always teased that I love birthdays so much that my birthday is a month-long!  I mean, who doesn't love ice cream, cake, and yep ... parties.  Here are a few cards I received for my birthday.  BTW, the one above was made by Design Team Member Barbara!  I love the layout and the colors she used.  This card is picture perfect and I love it and I hope to pinch the idea in the future.  Wow Barbara!  :-)

Jan's very funny card.  My family is currently experiencing some health issues and Jan sent me this card to put a smile on my face.  She succeeded!  :-)

Carol's card is adorable and I love the colors she used.  Just beautiful Carol and the black background really makes the design pop!

This card by Katie made me feel like fall was in the air!  We have had a very hot summer here in San Diego and I am so ready for fall.  Thanks Katie for thinking of me.  I love your card and  miss you and Don.  :-)

This wonderful Step Card by Lori has a story behind it.  Lori is a long time friend and I know she loves tea.  So, a couple of months ago, I found this adorable stamp set and I just had to send it to her!  Lucky me ... she sent me this very cute Step Card made with my gift!  :-)

This card made by Marian you might recognize.  The design is embossed using one of my favorite templates, LI Template #L945.  I love the colors Marian.

This card was made by my dear friend Sally.  I love how it opens ... the tree and sentiment open downward and the top of the tree (leaves) lift upward revealing the inside of the card!  OMG ... I want to pinch this very unique idea!  Thanks so much Sally for making me feel so special and for sharing this idea.

This card was made by my friend Tamara.  We go back a long ways ... actually, before I retired from the law office where we both worked.  The card is so fun with sprinkles on top!  Thanks so much Tamara for helping me celebrate my birthday.

That's it for today.  Tomorrow I want to show you the Halloween cards I made using LI's Halloween Cut Outs.  While the release came rather late for the holiday, I managed to put together a few cards to send to family and friends.  I mentioned above my family is struggling right now.  My youngest daughter Lori is going to have some major surgery for cancer in her mouth with reconstruction of her jaw.  It's overwhelming, to say the least, and trying to deal with the stress ... I am ever so thankful for my supportive husband and the cards I make to keep my mind busy during this horrible time ... not only for my sweet girl but also from this horrible pandemic. Thank you everyone for your wonderful cards and prayers.  Have an amazing day.  Happy embossing, Donna.