Sunday, April 5, 2009

Hello and A Wedding Card

Hi there! I apologize for being away from this blog for awhile. I've been playing on my other blog and haven't been at my craft table for some time now. I also have not felt good the last few days. I woke up last Friday morning being very dizzy and being nauseated. I actually called my husband and asked him to come home from his bike ride. I spent all day Friday and Saturday in bed and still do not feel the greatest today. I've been having these dizzy spells a lot lately, so I probably should see if I can get into the doctor tomorrow sometime.

I actually made a card this evening. It's a wedding card for the daughter of some friends of ours that is getting married this coming Friday, Good Friday, in Arkansas. Heather has been in nursing school in Arkansas and met her fiance there in Arkansas. We'd love to be there, unfortunately that is not possible.
Here is the card I made. The card base is a teal blue, then a layer of ivory. I wanted to use a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the ivory, however, I made a 4.75 x 6.75 card and the cs was too big to go through the Cuttlebug. Instead I scored 2 thin lines on the top and bottom. Its probably hard to see in the picture. I stamped the swans with Versamark ink on the teal blue layer and then embossed it with white embossing powder. That layer is backed with a piece of black. Its obvious I haven't stamped for a while, there are some mistakes. Gerry said he couldn't see them. I just got some of those Prima flowers and thought they would dress up the card a bit. I think the card turned out okay.

I need to get to feeling better as I have several projects to get done in the next couple of weeks. The shoebox card swap I mentioned some time ago is on the 18th of April and I have 18 cards to make for that. It was decided that the cards be made and then the only thing to do at the swap is the assembly of them since this was the first swap. We can see after this one how elaborate or simple the cards are that we make and how much time is actually needed to make them. I am looking forward to it, my friend Michelle is going with me.

Friday, March 27, 2009

I Haven't Forgotten This Blog

I know its been some time since I posted a new card or paper project. I've been having so much fun on my other blog that this one has been sorely neglected. I do have some projects I need to get done so I will be posting something new soon.

If you haven't visited my other blog, do so. Its mostly about food. LOL!! http://anewdaywithbetty.blogspot.com.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Blog Candy on Inkydoodle

Korin is doing some spring cleaning and celebrating her birthday in April. She has some blog candy to share. Check out her blog at http://inkydoodle.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-time-for-blog-candy.html.

Korin is the owner of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps www.sweetnsassystamps.com.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A New Blog

I just created a new blog called "Betty's Ramblings" http://anewdaywithbetty.blogspot.com. When I created my Elegant Reflections blog it was to be strictly for my handmade cards and other paper projects. The new blog will be to post any and all non-card related items such as trips we take, family happenings and anything else I want to share.

In May of this year we are going on an extended road trip to Alabama and I like to journal when we go on a trip. So instead of writing it out, I can post each day on my new blog and include photos of what we see along the way.

I really don't like to write, however I do enjoy journaling, which doesn't make any sense. :) It should be fun to see what I come up with on a daily basis or as the spirit moves me. So stay tuned!

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Focus on the Family Marriage Conference

Gerry and I spent today at a Marriage Conference sponsored by Focus on the Family. It was by live satellite from Colorado Springs, CO. The theme was "Seeing Your Marriage Through the Eyes of God". All of the speakers were outstanding. Over 500 different churches sponsored the conference across the nation and Canada and over 70,000 people had registered for the conference. It was held at Sunset Christian Church in Rocklin. A continental breakfast and box lunch was included.

I am challenged to love and respect the husband God gave me more than I have because it is what God wants of me.

My prayer is that Gerry and I, together will take all that we heard today and apply it to building a stronger bond between each other and a marriage that will withstand any trials that may come our way.

Friday, February 27, 2009

A Most Enjoyable Friday at The Flower Farm, Loomis, CA

Gerry was the ride leader for his bike club's ride today. Last Saturday he went on a club ride up towards Auburn. He got as far as Loomis and stopped at a place called The Flower Farm for some lunch. He decided to do the club ride today up to The Flower Farm. Yesterday after we picked up our grandson Andy from school and took him to Aunt Elizabeth's house, we drove up to The Flower Farm to see how many miles it would be from Beal's Point at Folsom Lake. The ride was going to be on the American River Bike Trail to Beal's Point and then from there it would be on surface streets.

He told me I could drive out today and meet him if I wanted to so I decided to do it. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out and it was probably about 60 degrees. The Flower Farm is located in Loomis which is kinda north-east of Sacramento. It is mostly farms, ranches and huge homes out there. I got there a little after 10 am, he told me they'd probably be there about 10:30 am. The riders started arriving around 10:20 or so. Gerry was in the last group getting there. Because he was the ride leader, he had to make sure that no one got lost. He got there after 11 am. There were 2 women who are new to the club on the ride and he stayed with them to make sure they found their way. There were over 40 people today on the ride. I did the ride sheet for him and made 20 copies so there weren't enough copies for everyone. Some of them said they didn't need a ride sheet so it worked out. A lot of them went to Folsom to Karen's which is a restaurant/bakery/deli that they go to a lot of the time. Twenty-two people went out to The Flower Farm. It is a nursery, cafe, B&B and a large barn where they can accommodate banquets, weddngs, etc.

I sat in the car for awhile reading the paper then got out and wandered around the garden for a while. I found a stone bench to sit at and watched the hummingbirds, there was a robin looking for worms and a couple of geese flew overhead. The sun felt great and it was the most peaceful setting.

The cafe has a large deck on the backside and there are chairs and tables in the yard. Last Saturday Gerry had a bagel sandwich for lunch so we ordered the same thing today. It is a bagel served open face that has been spread with cream cheese, thin slices of cucumber, red bell peppers, slivers of red onion with a thin sauce of some kind topping it. The cost is $4 and for $2 more you can have slices of smoked salmon on top. It was a messy sandwich with the sauce, however, so very good. We shared a sandwich, last week Gerry ate a whole one. I don't know if I could eat a whole one, it was pretty rich with the cream cheese and smoked salmon. They have all kinds of drinks and lunch specials. I had a raspberry Italian soda and Gerry had coffee. The lunch special today was cream of tomato soup with a roll or lasagna.

There also were different things for sale in the cafe, art prints, t-shirts, tote bags and handmade cards, among other things. I did look at the cards, they were all very nice.

I am sure I will be asking to go out there again for lunch on another lovely spring day. I didn't think to take my camera with me, I will have to remember to do that the next time we go out there.

Birthday Card & Post-It Note Holder for Sherri

This card is for Sherri who I worked with at Juvenile Court. The butterfly is from a SU set and the two different leaf stamps are from Judikins. One is a leafy bamboo and the other is a fern. I used 2 different green chalk inks for the leaves then sponged all around the leaves with one of the green inks. I stamped the butterfly on a piece of white c/s, colored it with Copic markers then cut it out. It's mounted with a thin strip of foam tape in the middle of the butterfly and it's wings folded up so it appears to be in flight. The card base is a bright green, then black, a pale blue, another black layer and then white. I need more practice in coloring. I knew what I wanted the butterfly to look like, however, I am not sure I accomplished that. It looks alright, I think. What do you think?
Then I made her a post-it note holder. These are so easy to make and I like making them. Well, hope she likes her card and post-it note holder.