Happy Memorial Day

I spent Memorial Day making cards for OWH (OperationWriteHome.org) to send to our heroes so they can use them to write home. I love making these cards for the obvious reason because they honor our soldiers but also because I can play around with different ideas. These are a few of the 69 cards I got done - hoping to make 31 more before Thurs so I can get them sent out. Will have my kids on Wednesday night write Any Hero letters.

I love the one on the right


oops, sorry this is sideways :P
I was on Columbus Scrappers forum and someone started a topic on embossing vellum - I've been having fun with that.

This is the one project I did for SusieLou.Artfire.com - my store. This is a small notepad you can keep in your purse or next to the phone. You can refill the paper easily because I use a binder clip to hold it together. Great gifts for teachers or to tuck into a basket, pair it with a cool pen.

Check out the chance to win

some great blog candy. Contest ends tomorrow (Monday, Memorial Day)

Memorial Day Weekend

I'm so glad it is finally the weekend - and a long one!

I want to first say THANK YOU to all those who are actively serving in our military. Without you we have no freedom. Your sacrifice is appreciated and you are not forgotten.

Secondly, THANK YOU to all those who have served in the past. This country is the greatest on earth because of your service and sacrifice.

Thirdly, THANK YOU to all the family members of our active and retired military. Without your love and support our veterans and active duty could not / cannot do their jobs. Your sacrifice is not forgotten either. You quietly keep the home fires burning and we appreciate you too.

It is important to remember all those who serve. Firemen, police officers, teachers...THANK YOU.

I hope you all have a great plans for this weekend.

More cards 5-22-10

What a wonderful weekend. I had no where to go except my scrap room! Okay, I did go to church Saturday night and Pastor Rob preached - love his preaching! Also got to go to Odd Lots before church and found a great deal on Cuttlebug embossing folders - $2 each (they are usually $4-7). My husband even did laundry this weekend for me...like I said, what a wonderful weekend.

Here are a few of the cards I got done this weekend for my Artfire Store - www.SusieLou.ArtFire.com

This one is one of my favorites. I did different variations of this theme - using pearls, heart bling. But I just love the delicateness of the pink satin ribbon against the sage card.


I've been wanting to do some horse-themed cards. I like the second one best but the howdy is cute too. Love my new Clear Dollar stamp (it took awhile to get here because the first order got lost ... but worth the wait).




As much as I don't want to go to work tomorrow - because I want to play some more in my scrap room - I've got to so I can afford my hobby :)

I ordered a Crop-A-Dile Chomper this weekend and can't wait to make little note books - another Jillibean lift. We made them at a Make-N-Take at Cord Camera on NSD.

The sermon on Sunday was about simplifying your life. A young man from our church felt led to challenge himself to simply. For 30 days he got rid of 3 things...gave away or threw away. He realized that his life had a lot of "things" that either took away his devotion to God or didn't add to it. If you are interested in reading more about it, see his facebook page 3LessRicher.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by. Susan

Scrap day - literally

As I was "reorganizing" my blog, I realize that it has been awhile since I sent cards to OWH (OperationWriteHome.org). This organization sends cards to our military deployed Iraq & Afghanistan so they can keep in touch with their loved ones back home.

I went through my store cards and pulled out extras and then decided to use scraps only to make new cards. Here are a few. None of these designs are for sale - they are special for the men and women who lay their lives on the line every single day to protect our freedom.

If you have some scraps laying around, could you make a few cards and send them to OWH? Use my link to head over there and check it out. My heart is touched when I see the pics of soldiers holding up cards they are going to send home to someone waiting. It's a little thing to do (and you know you'd enjoy it) but it reminds our men and women serving that they are not forgotten and they are appreciated. It reminds their loved ones who receive the cards that we care about them too.

Okay, off my soap box....I was preaching to myself. I haven't spent enough time making cards of OWH as I should have.

Two more cards for today!

Two more sets of cards. I bought this paper pack at Hobby Lobby when it was 1/2 off. Got a ton of awesome patterned, textured paper for $10. I love the colors because they are good for boys/men.

Most of the cards I do are very feminine. I really noticed this when my hubby asked for a card for his dad's birthday. Didn't think he's appreciate all the flowers, bows, ribbons, etc. that were on my cards. LOL :O

Had one more set of cards with this paper I wanted to get done (more feminine), but hubby asked if I wanted to watch the new Mel Gibson movie with him...duh, Mel Gibson...yeah!!

These, and the ones I did earlier today, will be going to the store soon. If you think about it, spread the word that you can purchase beautiful hand-made cards at prices below store bought ones at www.SusieLou.Artfire.com.

Another Window Card

This set went much quicker. I did figure out how to cut two at once - and on the first try! These are purple cardstock with the vellum image glued directly to the back of the frame. Much quicker than trying to cut and line up a separate frame. After I took the picture I spritzed them with Glimmer Mist.

New technique cards - at least for me!

It took me many hours, but I finally got it! I did a square cut-out on the Cricut but I had to figure out the positioning. I still struggle with translating from the screen to the Cricut!! I've got 4 more to do today (with vellum instead of transparency so I want to see if I can position it to cut two at one time.

I used Core-dinations cardstock in black for the frame - embossed with Cuttlebug Moroccan - thought about sanding but I like the muted design better. I printed the hand on the transparency and sandwiched it with the frame to the white cardstock. Next time I'm going to do the card in color and adhere the transparency to the back with white behind it - much easier than trying to line up the frame!! Oh wait, that won't work - I want the verse to show through and it is too long to adhere - okay...I'll have to think that through some more.

The verse (Psalm 139 - we are in the palm of His hand - love this) is printed on vellum and adhered to white paper and glued into the card.

I used fiber to go through both pages of the card (the verse page and the blank inside page). I look at my fiber and wonder what I'll do with it so when I figure out an application, I get excited.

I hope you enjoy the card. Pati, this is the one I was dreaming about :)

Happy Mother's Day

Great Day - got lots done

I got busy today after going to the doctor (just a check up - all is well). I did some purging - well....the stuff is still here but sitting on the dining table ready to bag up for charity.

I also got a lot of cards completed. This first one is one of my favorites.



This is a complete lift from Jillibean. Love the Core-Impressions paper!!!





Another favorite. It is just so sweet. Started out completely different but I didn't like it so tore off the original design.


I don't use staples often but they really work on these card.


Tomorrow is book club and then lunch at Thurman Cafe. I wanted to go somewhere different. Was going to the Ohio Deli (home of the Dagwood) but Brad decided I'd like the Thurman Cafe better! This is my Mother's Day dinner.

Then Sunday is dinner with Brad's Mom at China Bell.

Happy Mother's Day! To those of you who have lost your mothers (as I have), I pray Sunday is a day of remembering her with a smile in your heart.

Who is making your choices?

The Daily Bread devotion this morning is about making choices. In Gen. 13:9-13, we read that Abraham and Lot needed to part ways because the land could not support both of them. Abraham gave Lot the choice. Lot made it based on physical attractiveness, etc. The Bible does not record that he went to God for guidance. Lot ended up losing everything - family, possessions, respect.

We know how God rewarded Abraham's faithfulness!

Who makes your choices? God is the author of creation...He knows time from the beginning to the end (not that there is a beginning or end!). He knows the future. We are wise when we go to Him for direction in all our choices.

Have an awesome day.

Scrap pages and cards 5-4-10

I got off work early (after going in an hour early) so I could come home and scrap. After changing into my lounging clothes (jammies) and getting everything started (and even starting dinner), Brad reminded me that we had to vote. So I left my work space and got dressed and off we went.

Here are the layouts of Brad's fishing trip with his brother.









cards done tonight.

CS Retreat pages

Got a few layouts done tonight. I'm convinced that a newly organized room makes for an organized mind :)

These pictures are from the Columbus Scrappers Spring Retreat 2010. Love the Jillibean paper (she gave us some at retreat). Also used her idea to create the flowers.

Hopefully the budget will allow me to go again late summer! I had a great time and the food -oh my, I can't believe I didn't take any pictures. The Ho-Ho cake was out of this world!! Love Amish cooking.

I'm finally getting caught up on my Lifetime Story. I was behind several weeks. I combined several topics.

My "what I wanted to be when I grew up" didn't take more than one page so I combined it with my teen years. I then combined by teen years with writing a letter to myself from me today to me then. I didn't do much as a teen but maybe I'll supplement as I think about stuff - I just don't have pictures.



My school years weren't very interesting - especially since I moved so much during high school - so instead of doing one week of elementary and one week for high school, I just did them all together.



I've got two more projects to finish before I go back to cards - scrap-retreat and Brad's fishing trip. I spent so much time organizing my room (again) that it was dinner time before I got much scrapping done!

I treated myself to new shelves for NSD (National Scrapbook Day). I removed two tables from the room and took the doors off two of the cabinets. Got to spread my stuff out even more - for me, it's outta sight, outta mind. So I need to see it all.





Here is a close-up of my new shelves. Easy peasy to put together - no tools required! And they look great.


Probably no more scrapping tonight - my muscles ache from lifting the footlockers and the old desk top that sat on them and moving everything out to the hall (my son will need to move them from upstairs to the basement!) and moving the old shelves around. I should go soak in the tub...but that would require me to move!