Crafting Surprise!

I got a wonderful surprise at church yesterday. A friend, Joy, had been to the States for a visit and while she was there a friend of hers, Carol, gave her a box filled with crafting goodness to bring back with her. Our monthly group of card makers is going to love, love, love this unexpected gift! Carol sent us twelve Stampin' Up stamp sets (all new to us!), card stock, ink pads and three SU catalogs for inspiration. We can't just order crafting supplies online and have them shipped here because of extremely high custom duties so a gift like this makes us giddy with happiness!

You should have heard the oohs and aahs as I and another stamping friend looked through all these goodies. What fun it is going to be to have all these new stamp sets when we meet again on the first Saturday morning of February! Thank you, thank you, Carol, for such a fabulous gift, and also to Joy for making room in her car to carry this terrific batch of goodies back with her.

While I'm blogging I guess I should share one of my latest cards with you. This was made for my friend Faith, who loves to celebrate birthdays with her family and friends by sending personalized cards. This one is for her brother-in-law who, along with Faith's sister, served as missionaries in Australia for six years.

Take care all. It's still chilly here but the sun is back and helps to warm up the house when it shines through our floor to ceiling windows!

Betty

Valentines

Made a number of valentine cards this morning for my friend Ruthie to take to the Monday Market. All money from card sales go to the dental fund for the boys at Hope House. These are the two designs that I used for a total of seventeen cards. Thanks to my friend Alice who let me use her heart punches!

I found this card on Pinterest and it was the inspiration for my first card. I love how you can get inspired by a card and end up with something that looks completely different.

Betty

Candy and Kiddos

This morning we went to the nearby village of Mezcala to distribute the prettily wrapped candy to the children of the barrio of La Cuesta. I gotta tell 'ya, it was just plain FUN! Here's a picture of some of the kids waiting in line to receive their gift.

And here's one of a little girl helping her smaller brother.

 It was all very orderly.

Pastor Jose and the kids after they have received their candy. (Those are avocado trees in the background!)

We gave out all 140 presents and could have used some more -- next year I'll have to shoot for at least 200!

And on the way home we had another treat! Saw this little burro walking down the side of the road all by himself, his back loaded with firewood. Don't know the story of his owner; we figured this little guy had done this so many times that he knew where he was supposed to go even without being led!

We love our life in Mexico!!
Betty

A Banner Birthday with Freshly Made Sketches

This card is based loosely on sketch challenge #117 by Amy at Freshly Made Sketches. It's a very simple card really, but I like the fact that the banners are not adhered to the card and appear to "float". This will be given to one of our church members on their birthday. Our stamping group that gets together on the first Saturday of each month makes one birthday card for the church and any others for themselves. Here's a picture from our last meeting. All are very busy working on their Christmas cards.

We'll be giving out our Christmas candy treats this coming Saturday. Watch for photos!

Betty

Christmas Candies for 2013

Dropping by for the first time in a very long time to share a Christmas project that I've been working on. We have been saving empty toilet tissue rolls this past year to fill with candy and distribute to kiddos in a nearby village. This is our second year to do this and it sure is fun to see the smiles on so many sweet faces!

Here is a picture as I got started. All the toilet tissue rolls (some have candy inside already), candy and wrapping paper laid out on the spare bedrooom bed.

I made tags to attach to one end of the candy rolls with curly ribbon. "Feliz Navidad" stamped on tags.

Finally finished up the wrapping last night after several different sessions over several days. There are about 140 shiny, wrapped gifts all ready to go -- what fun there will be passing these out!

Hoping you're all enjoying your Christmas preparations this year. Merry Christmas, peace and joy to all!
Betty

Birthday Cards

This post will be short and sweet.....

This is a card I made for a fellow who used to be a fireman. Found this free image on the internet -- don't you just love the rainbow?????

This image is from the Graphics Fairy. Hope the recipient enjoys having her name on the  butterfly!

Betty

Anniversary Cards

I've been busy making cards for my friend from church who is so good at remembering relatives and friends on their special days. We make a pretty good team -- she tells me something special about the person and I find a way to translate that to a card.

This couple is in the process of building a home. What makes this card special to me is that I used a picture from when we were building our home in Conroe, Texas. This is the house we lived in before moving here to Mexico.

This is another anniversary card. There's a family story behind the plate of cinnamon rolls!

Before I sign off, I want to leave you with another picture of the Vermilion Flycatcher. He likes to sit on the beak of this metal figure I have on the front porch. Only problem is, he poops on my porch!!!

Adios,
Betty