Saturday, February 9, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day...

Hi there! Hope y0u are all having a great weekend so far! Such a terrible winter storm effecting the United States especially the East Coast ~ please stay safe and warm :) I am all too familiar with winter storms because I grew up in Buffalo, NY which is notoriously known for bitter cold temps and LOTS of snow. At one point, we all wore t-shirts proclaiming that "I survived the Blizzard of '77". What a hoot and $$$ maker for the screen printing businesses! 

I wasn't even a teenager in '77 but I clearly recall my Dad who was a brittle diabetic suffered a diabetic coma that winter and was transported via snowmobile to the nearest clearing where a helicopter could land and take him to the hospital. Fun times ~ NOT! that is one of the many reasons I chose to live here in the desert. It gets pretty darn hot but in my opinion, it sure beats shoveling snow off the roof or shoveling the driveway only for Mother Nature to drop another foot or so ~ depending on her mood ;)

Anyways, it's unusually chilly hear but thankfully the sun is shining, birds are singing and flowers are blossoming :)

Scott and I had a date night last night. We went to see the HILARIOUS movie ~ Identity Thief! What a hoot and great laugh therapy! If you looking to enjoy some good belly laughter, I highly recommend either Identity Thief or 40~something if you have a "good" sense of humor! :)

Today I have a few cards to share using various Ranger alcohol inks that have been collecting dust! Both of these cards are quite simple but I didn't want to cover up the pretty dry embossed / inked backgrounds that I created.
The sentiment used on this card is from MFT Lovey Dovey Sentiments and was stamped on a layered die cut piece made using: Die-namics Fishtail Flags Layered STAX and Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX dies. The die cut Sweet Tooth felt heart was made using a Die-namics Layered Heart STAX die and features a stitched on a Wild Cherry button.
For color inspiration, I joined along with Paper Pals Arts color challenge:
My next card up, I made for my dear son Jerry who turned 25 yesterday! Sometimes it's hard to believe I have a son that age when I'm not even a day over 39 myself! :) LMAO Seriously though, although I fall in the category of a "teenage pregnancy", I was a  Freshman in college and married when I had Jerry, 6 short years later divorced and with a second child, my sweet daughter, Angie and only 1 semester of college on my transcript. I had no choice to immediately put my big girl panties on, seek full-time employment and enroll in college full-time. Needless to say, those were some really tough years behind me and I would NEVER want to go back and do it over :)

If you visit me regularly, surely you have read about how proud I am that Jerry graduated from the University in December, accepted a job in San Francisco. We gave Jerry a round trip airplane ticket to visit next weekend. Surely he will spend 24/7 with his sweet GF April and sneak in a lunch date with me :)
This card is "basically" the same as the first with the exception of different colored Ranger alcohol inks, a different embossing folder and different embellishments. I stamped a sentiment from Finishing Flourishes on layered die cut pieces made using the same die combination as the first: Die-namics Fishtail Flags Layered STAX and Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX dies.
Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you enjoy your weekend!
Be Sweet ;)
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48 comments:

  1. Hi Mona, gorgeous works with the inks - both beautiful cards! Lovely to read more about you Nicola x

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  2. love them both -
    thanks for the inspiration.
    what an interesting life - I tip my hat to you for persevering.
    Sandra ltb

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  3. So beautiful!!! Love the embossing and the wonderful colors!

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  4. Wow, these cards are so beautiful and inspiring! I need to give this technique a try! Love your results!

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  5. So gorgeous, Mona! I love the embossing and how you used these inks! Very inspiring! Thanks!!!

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  6. I love the embossing on your cards and how you highlighted them with ink. Very cool!
    My goodness, your life story in a post lol. Seriously, I concur with Sandra in saying that my hat is off to you Mona. So very glad that you have found happiness and true love with Scott. :) May all your dreams come true! Hugs

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  7. Oh I so remember that Blizzard of '77! Home for a week and going stir crazy! But I love the snow, except for the shoveling. My back hurts today!

    Anyway back to the cards...They are so pretty! Love the colors and technique you used! Hope you are not too warm there in AZ! LOL!!

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  8. WOW Mona!!! THese are stunning!!!

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  9. Very neat techniques on these cards. I like the look it gives them. Happy Birthday to your son Jerry!! Hope he has much success (just like his mama).

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  10. Wow, beautiful set of cards, Mona! I love all the beautiful embossing! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Wow, stunning cards, both of them! TFS and thank you for joining us at the Pals Paper Arts!

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  12. What pretty and very different looking backgrounds you created Mona - isn't it great to get out 'stuff' you haven't used and USE IT!!

    We got over 2 feet of snow overnight - and with the wind blowing all around some of the drifts are over 4 feet (particularly on our deck where it's up to the kitchen window!) but we didn't lose electricity and the roads are all cleared by tonight - they actually closed the roads after 4 pm yesterday and supposedly would fine you $500 if you were caught outon the road!

    Hope you have a nice visit with Jerry!

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  13. Very pretty cards Mona, I especially love the one for Jerry! The colors are beautiful :)

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  14. Both of these card look amazing. Such a different style. I LOVE it.

    I really would love to go see the movie Identity thief. It looks like such a funny movie.

    Hugs~

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  15. Love ur coloring with the inks. Beautiful cards, and hb to your son

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  16. So pretty, Mona!!! Love the pretty inks you used and the embossing looks amazing!

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  17. Gorgeous cards! Love the look you achieved with the alcohol inks! Love the gear embellishment on the 2nd card! So fun to read a little bit about you!

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  18. LOVE the embossing and beautiful colors! WOW!

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  19. Love hearing your story, Mona! Thanks for sharing with us! Your cards are super incredible! The embossing technique is amazing! TFS!

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  20. Lovely cards, Mona! That embossing technique is so pretty! That inking looks like fun! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Great cards Mona...so very creative! You have certainly given me some inspiration to get those embossing folders out and use them a bit more! I love these cards! ;-)

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  22. These are really lovely cards ... I love how the ink transforms everything ... My thoughts too are with all the people on the East coast of the States ... But like your story ... what doesn't get you only makes you stronger ... Have a lovely weekend

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  23. Hi Mona, certainly gonna watch that movie. Sound funny! Love your cards, especially the one for your son. I didn't know you were a teenage mom. Thanks for sharing your story :O)

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  24. Wonderful, Mona! Love the inked/embossed backgrounds!

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  25. Wow Mona these are fabulous! The first so pretty, the second so manly! <3

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  26. Lovely background, Mona! You have so many fabulous techniques! Also, loved hearing more about you! Thanks for sharing!

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  27. HI Mona

    These are fabulous! Love the embossing..

    Hugs
    Christine x

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  28. These are super gorgeous, Mona! Thanks for sharing your story as well! Quite impressive how you handled that all! We always see beautiful and happy family photos, so happy it all turned out so good!! These cards will surely put a smile on the faces!!!
    Hugs, Wendy

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  29. Sweet cards Mona! I can see why you love the warmer climate, that must have been frightening for all of you! I am glad you liked the movie, I wanted to see it but I was concerned it was one of those that have all the funny scenes in the promo with nothing left for the movie! ~Diane

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  30. Both cards look fabulous. I like the look of the alcohol inks on the embossed CS. I bet you are looking forward to seeing Jerry again, enjoy your time with him. :)

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  31. Wow, two beautiful cards, Mona! I LOVE the inked embossing! I've never tried these kind of inks! Love your results and thanks for the inspiration!

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  32. Well you are just FILLING me with inspiration this weekend, Mona!! I adore the dimension you've created on these cards, just WONDERFUL, both of them!!

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  33. Fabulous, fabulous cards, Mona! So much texture! Thanks for playing at Pals Paper Arts!

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  34. Beautiful cards and thanks for sharing your story with us!

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  35. Very pretty cards! Both are so creative with that inked embossing! Love your beautiful results which makes me want to give this a try! TFS!

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  36. Both of these cards are so pretty!!! I love the colors in both and that embossing is wonderful! TFS!

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  37. Fabulous cards, Mona! So creative with your textures! TFS!

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  38. Wow! Both cards are fabulous. You are very creative and talented. Love the way you colored the embossing, and the stitching is such a nice touch. Thanks for sharing with us at Pals Paper Arts this week!

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  39. So beautiful, Mona! You've really taking embossing to a whole new level with these alcohol based inks! Love the way you mixed the colors! Absolutely divine! Thanks for sharing these and your wonderful backstory! You are even more impressive in my eyes now!

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  40. Lovely cards, Mona! One feminine and the other very masculine! The embossed and inked backgrounds really add so much interest to both! Love your technique!

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  41. LOVE the cards Mona.. both are so PRETTY!!
    I want to see both those movies!! :) Happy Birthday to Jerry!! Enjoy your visit with him this weekend!!!
    Have a GREAT day!!!

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  42. Beautiful cards! Looks like fun with inking and embossing! TFS!

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  43. Wow, both of these are so pretty! Love the way you inked the embossed background!

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  44. Mir gefallen beide Karten sehr gut, Mona!

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  45. Gorgeous Mona! I always adore inked embossed backgrounds!

    I am a solar powered girl as well. Not a fan of the cold! I do miss the weather of Hawaii. Hard to come back to the colder temps after living there for 9 years and I grew up in Florida! I had my share of Lake Effect snow for three years as we lived outside of Watertown, NY. No thank you! That was enough for me and I couldn't wait to say Aloha to Hawaii! :-)

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  46. Wow, you must be one proud mama! Congrats on doing such a great job!

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  47. Such gorgeous cards!! I love using alcohol inks. How wonderful to such different looks with the same technique! ~ Blessings, Tracey

    http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/

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