Thursday, June 30, 2011

Color me Purple!

Good afternoon, and Bye-bye June...why did you leave so fast? looking for my Mad tea party post? click here


Today I have for your viewing pleasure a little doll of a card, layered in shades of purple.

This card fulfills a sketch challenge over in the ning group 


OK, Here we go:
all Card Stock is by STAMPIN' UP,
ribbon from MICHAEL'S, The white dots at the top are RANGER Enamel Accents,
PRISMA COLOR pencils and blending pencil were used.
JUDIKINS Diamond Glaze is used on her eyes, boots,cross-earring, and the tiny flowers.
Digi images used: 
Gothic Girl 2 by TORICO, Inside and outside sentiments (word art) by TLC CREATIONS,
Flower bunch image is called BLOOM, but the upload had no ownership name...if anyone recognizes this digi image, please let me know who's it is.

Both colored images are semi-fussy cut, and then attached to black cs, cut again, attached to orchid cs, cut again, and lastly attached to a eggplant purple cs, cut again and attached to lilac card base.

The image below the colors are definitely off, but I am showing you it because you can clearly see the diamond glaze on her eyes, cross-earring, boots and the tiny flowers

 the inside

one last look

Hope you like my little Purple Doll :)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

ATTENTION: still visiting all the other Tea parties

so please be patient, I'll get there. and also I might be posting something tomorrow.


Susan

A Fanciful Twist's MAD TEA PARTY-2011

 Giveaway for the Banner, is now closed
ALL giveaways now closed

Welcome to my post for  
A FANCIFUL TWIST'S MAD TEA PARTY!!

(click here after commenting to take you to the entire list of party participants)


I have today, a wonderful short story about tea, please get yourself a beverage, and do yourself the honor of reading it. It is an old but good short story. (Not written by me, it is an actual published story, like the one posted yesterday for Fairy day) Throughout the story I'll have pictures of my tiny birthday tea party outside on Wednesday. It was an extremely hot and Humid day, and I rushed around getting everything, at least semi festive. The humidity of course played havoc with my hair (frizz and curls) hubby's hair was just limp. We had to do our photo shoot quickly so the frosting wouldn't melt off the cake. LOL. I apologize upfront for being sans bra, I got right back into a cool sleeveless cotton gown once in the house, LOL! 
OH, you will also see immediately the MAD party of my tea (crystal light) party.

Well, enough of the bad stuff, LOL. The banner(The one paper and the tulle on the ends is actually purple not blue) above is hand made by me and will be given away to one lucky  person that comments on this post.***

In addition, in celebrating my 51rst Birthday that was Wednesday. I am selecting 5 of my long time followers(that were followers on Wednesday and before) to receive 1 small token gift of appreciation for being a follower, it means a great deal to me to have people in my life, even if it is on the internet. With my disabilities and empty nest, life can be a bit lonely. Now I am asking my followers, since they are SUCH to in their comment on this post, also comment about a post from 2010--any post that they enjoyed, and why they enjoyed it. PLEASE do NOT just say "oh the first post I read through a blog hop etc." I want to know that you are a sincere follower so please actually pick one that has some meaning to you, even if it was a funny one.*****

*** additional chances for the banner for NEW visitors
-become a follower, and make a SEPARATE COMMENT HERE saying so
-choose a post from 2010 that you like and tell me why you liked it in a SEPARATE COMMENT HERE  and on THAT POST

***** Additional chances for my loyal followers for both the banner, and for the extra gift
-1 you get automatically for the banner, just because you are a follower...not need for a separate comment
-pick a favorite post from 2011, and COMMENT ABOUT IT HERE and why...you'll get 1 extra chance for the banner AND an extra chance for the special gift.

MANDATORY for ALL comments...LIST your email in this format:
joeblow AT gmail DOT com...if you use the actual at sign and a period, you will be flooded with spam, from those nasty internet bots.

Now please ENJOY!!

Title:     The Tea-Kettle
Author: Grace James [
More Titles by James]
Long ago, as I’ve heard tell, there dwelt at the temple of Morinji, in the Province of Kotsuke, a holy priest.
Now there were three things about this reverend man. First, he was wrapped up in meditations and observances and forms and doctrines. He was a great one for the Sacred Sutras, and knew strange and mystical things. Then he had a fine exquisite taste of his own, and nothing pleased him so much as the ancient tea ceremony of the Cha-no-yu; and for the third thing about him, he knew both sides of a copper coin well enough and loved a bargain. 

  
None so pleased as he when he happened upon an ancient tea-kettle, lying rusty and dirty and half-forgotten in a corner of a poor shop in a back street of his town.
“An ugly bit of old metal,” says the holy man to the shopkeeper; “but it will do well enough to boil my humble drop of water of an evening. I’ll give you three rin for it.” This he did and took the kettle home, rejoicing; for it was of bronze, fine work, the very thing for the Cha-no-yu.
A novice cleaned and scoured the tea-kettle, and it came out as pretty as you please. The priest turned it this way and that, and upside down, looked into it, tapped it with his finger-nail. He smiled. “A bargain,” he cried, “a bargain!” and rubbed his hands. He set the kettle upon a box covered over with a purple cloth, and looked at it so long that first he was fain to rub his eyes many times, and then to close them altogether. His head dropped forward and he slept.

  And then, believe me, the wonderful thing happened. The tea-kettle moved, though no hand was near it. A hairy head, with two bright eyes, looked out of the spout. The lid jumped up and down. Four brown and hairy paws appeared, and a fine bushy tail. In a minute the kettle was down from the box and going round and round looking at things.
“A very comfortable room, to be sure,” says the tea-kettle.
Pleased enough to find itself so well lodged, it soon began to dance and to caper nimbly and to sing at the top of its voice. Three or four novices were studying in the next room. “The old man is lively,” they said; “only hark to him. What can he be at?” And they laughed in their sleeves.
Heaven’s mercy, the noise that the tea-kettle made! Bang! bang! Thud! thud! thud!
The novices soon stopped laughing. One of them slid aside the kara-kami and peeped through.
“Arah, the devil and all’s in it!” he cried. “Here’s the master’s old tea-kettle turned into a sort of a badger. The gods protect us from witchcraft, or for certain we shall be lost!”
“And I scoured it not an hour since,” said another novice, and he fell to reciting the Holy Sutras on his knees.
A third laughed. “I’m for a nearer view of the hobgoblin,” he said. 

So the lot of them left their books in a twinkling, and gave chase to the tea-kettle to catch it. But could they come up with the tea-kettle? Not a bit of it. It danced and it leapt and it flew up into the air. The novices rushed here and there, slipping upon the mats. They grew hot. They grew breathless.
“Ha, ha! Ha, ha!” laughed the tea-kettle; and “Catch me if you can!” laughed the wonderful tea-kettle.
Presently the priest awoke, all rosy, the holy man.
“And what’s the meaning of this racket,” he says, “disturbing me at my holy meditations and all?”
“Master, master,” cry the novices, panting and mopping their brows, “your tea-kettle is bewitched. It was a badger, no less. And the dance it has been giving us, you’d never believe!”
“Stuff and nonsense,” says the priest; “bewitched? Not a bit of it. There it rests on its box, good quiet thing, just where I put it.” 


Sure enough, so it did, looking as hard and cold and innocent as you please. There was not a hair of a badger near it. It was the novices that looked foolish.
“A likely story indeed,” says the priest. “I have heard of the pestle that took wings to itself and flew away, parting company with the mortar. That is easily to be understood by any man. But a kettle that turned into a badger--no, no! To your books, my sons, and pray to be preserved from the perils of illusion.”
That very night the holy man filled the kettle with water from the spring and set it on the hibachi to boil for his cup of tea. When the water began to boil--
“Ai! Ai!” the kettle cried; “Ai! Ai! The heat of the Great Hell!” And it lost no time at all, but hopped off the fire as quick as you please.
“Sorcery!” cried the priest. “Black magic! A devil! A devil! A devil! Mercy on me! Help! Help! Help!” He was frightened out of his wits, the dear good man. All the novices came running to see what was the matter.
“The tea-kettle is bewitched,” he gasped; “it was a badger, assuredly it was a badger ... it both speaks and leaps about the room.”
“Nay, master,” said a novice, “see where it rests upon its box, good quiet thing.”
And sure enough, so it did.
“Most reverend sir,” said the novice, “let us all pray to be preserved from the perils of illusion.”
The priest sold the tea-kettle to a tinker and got for it twenty copper coins.
“It’s a mighty fine bit of bronze,” says the priest. “Mind, I’m giving it away to you, I’m sure I cannot tell what for.” Ah, he was the one for a bargain! The tinker was a happy man and carried home the kettle. He turned it this way and that, and upside down, and looked into it.
“A pretty piece,” says the tinker; “a very good bargain.” And when he went to bed that night he put the kettle by him, to see it first thing in the morning. 


He awoke at midnight and fell to looking at the kettle by the bright light of the moon.
Presently it moved, though there was no hand near it.
“Strange,” said the tinker; but he was a man who took things as they came.
A hairy head, with two bright eyes, looked out of the kettle’s spout. The lid jumped up and down. Four brown and hairy paws appeared, and a fine bushy tail. It came quite close to the tinker and laid a paw upon him.
“Well?” says the tinker.
“I am not wicked,” says the tea-kettle.
“No,” says the tinker.
“But I like to be well treated. I am a badger tea-kettle.”
“So it seems,” says the tinker.
“At the temple they called me names, and beat me and set me on the fire. I couldn’t stand it, you know.”
“I like your spirit,” says the tinker.
“I think I shall settle down with you.”
“Shall I keep you in a lacquer box?” says the tinker.
“Not a bit of it, keep me with you; let us have a talk now and again. I am very fond of a pipe. I like rice to eat, and beans and sweet things.”
“A cup of saké sometimes?” says the tinker.
“Well, yes, now you mention it.”
“I’m willing,” says the tinker.
“Thank you kindly,” says the tea-kettle; “and, as a beginning, would you object to my sharing your bed? The night has turned a little chilly.”
“Not the least in the world,” says the tinker.
The tinker and the tea-kettle became the best of friends. They ate and talked together. The kettle knew a thing or two and was very good company.
One day: “Are you poor?” says the kettle.
“Yes,” says the tinker, “middling poor.”
“Well, I have a happy thought. For a tea-kettle, I am out-of-the-way--really very accomplished.”
“I believe you,” says the tinker.
“My name is Bumbuku-Chagama; I am the very prince of Badger Tea-Kettles.”
“Your servant, my lord,” says the tinker.
“If you’ll take my advice,” says the tea-kettle, “you’ll carry me round as a show; I really am out-of-the-way, and it’s my opinion you’d make a mint of money.”
“That would be hard work for you, my dear Bumbuku,” says the tinker.
“Not at all; let us start forthwith,” says the tea-kettle.
So they did. The tinker bought hangings for a theatre, and he called the show Bumbuku-Chagama. How the people flocked to see the fun! For the wonderful and most accomplished tea-kettle danced and sang, and walked the tight rope as to the manner born. It played such tricks and had such droll ways that the people laughed till their sides ached. It was a treat to see the tea-kettle bow as gracefully as a lord and thank the people for their patience.
The Bumbuku-Chagama was the talk of the country-side, and all the gentry came to see it as well as the commonalty. As for the tinker, he waved a fan and took the money. You may believe that he grew fat and rich. He even went to Court, where the great ladies and the royal princesses made much of the wonderful tea-kettle. 


At last the tinker retired from business, and to him the tea-kettle came with tears in its bright eyes.
“I’m much afraid it’s time to leave you,” it says.
“Now, don’t say that, Bumbuku, dear,” says the tinker. “We’ll be so happy together now we are rich.”
“I’ve come to the end of my time,” says the tea-kettle. “You’ll not see old Bumbuku any more; henceforth I shall be an ordinary kettle, nothing more or less.”
“Oh, my dear Bumbuku, what shall I do?” cried the poor tinker in tears.
“I think I should like to be given to the temple of Morinji, as a very sacred treasure,” says the tea-kettle.
It never spoke or moved again. So the tinker presented it as a very sacred treasure to the temple, and the half of his wealth with it.
And the tea-kettle was held in wondrous fame for many a long year. Some persons even worshipped it as a saint.

[The end]
Grace James's short story: Tea-Kettle
 I hope you enjoyed the party and the story, smile and always take a bite out of life!
 I look forward to your comments, and choosing winners!
The winner of the banner will be chosen on July 1, 
The long time follower winners will be chosen on July 3

Friday, June 24, 2011

Celebrating FAIRY DAY

Welcome to my post Honoring FAIRY DAY!!
(click for all the info)


I am sharing a Celtic tale about a fairy!

Connla and the Fairy Maiden (from Apples for the Teacher.com)
Connla of the Fiery Hair was son of Conn of the Hundred Fights. One day as he stood by the side of his father on the height of Usna, he saw a maiden clad in strange attire coming towards him.
"Whence comest thou, maiden?" said Connla.
"I come from the Plains of the Ever Living," she said, "there where there is neither death nor sin. There we keep holiday alway, nor need we help from any in our joy. And in all our pleasure we have no strife. And because we have our homes in the round green hills, men call us the Hill Folk."
The king and all with him wondered much to hear a voice when they saw no one. For save Connla alone, none saw the Fairy Maiden.


"To whom art thou talking, my son?" said Conn the king.
Then the maiden answered, "Connla speaks to a young, fair maid, whom neither death nor old age awaits. I love Connla, and now I call him away to the Plain of Pleasure, Moy Mell, where Boadag is king for aye, nor has there been complaint or sorrow in that land since he has held the kingship. Oh, come with me, Connla of the Fiery Hair, ruddy as the dawn with thy tawny skin. A fairy crown awaits thee to grace thy comely face and royal form. Come, and never shall thy comeliness fade, nor thy youth, till the last awful day of judgment."
The king in fear at what the maiden said, which he heard though he could not see her, called aloud to his Druid, Coran by name.
"Oh, Coran of the many spells," he said, "and of the cunning magic, I call upon thy aid. A task is upon me too great for all my skill and wit, greater than any laid upon me since I seized the kingship. A maiden unseen has met us, and by her power would take from me my dear, my comely son. If thou help not, he will be taken from thy king by woman's wiles and witchery."
Then Coran the Druid stood forth and chanted his spells towards the spot where the maiden's voice had been heard. And none heard her voice again, nor could Connla see her longer. Only as she vanished before the Druid's mighty spell, she threw an apple to Connla.

For a whole month from that day Connla would take nothing, either to eat or to drink, save only from that apple. But as he ate it grew again and always kept whole. And all the while there grew within him a mighty yearning and longing after the maiden he had seen.

But when the last day of the month of waiting came, Connla stood by the side of the king his father on the Plain of Arcomin, and again he saw the maiden come towards him, and again she spoke to him.
"'Tis a glorious place, forsooth, that Connla holds among short-lived mortals awaiting the day of death. But now the folk of life, the ever-living ones, beg and bid thee come to Moy Mell, the Plain of Pleasure, for they have learnt to know thee, seeing thee in thy home among thy dear ones."

When Conn the king heard the maiden's voice he called to his men aloud and said:
"Summon swift my Druid Coran, for I see she has again this day the power of speech."
Then the maiden said: "Oh, mighty Conn, fighter of a hundred fights, the Druid's power is little loved; it has little honour in the mighty land, peopled with so many of the upright. When the Law will come, it will do away with the Druid's magic spells that come from the lips of the false black demon."
Then Conn the king observed that since the maiden came, Connla his son spoke to none that spake to him. So Conn of the hundred fights said to him, "Is it to thy mind what the woman says, my son?"
"'Tis hard upon me," then said Connla; "I love my own folk above all things; but yet, but yet a longing seizes me for the maiden."
When the maiden heard this, she answered and said "The ocean is not so strong as the waves of thy longing. Come with me in my curragh, the gleaming, straight-gliding crystal canoe. Soon we can reach Boadag's realm. I see the bright sun sink, yet far as it is, we can reach it before dark. There is, too, another land worthy of thy journey, a land joyous to all that seek it. Only wives and maidens dwell there. If thou wilt, we can seek it and live there alone together in joy."

When the maiden ceased to speak, Connla of the Fiery Hair rushed away from them and sprang into the curragh, the gleaming, straight-gliding crystal canoe. And then they all, king and court, saw it glide away over the bright sea towards the setting sun. Away and away, till eye could see it no longer, and Connla and the Fairy Maiden went their way on the sea, and were no more seen, nor did any know where they came.
 ******************************************************************************
Image info:
Good morning fairy…http://free-extras.com/images/good_morning_fairy-1812.htm
Connla and the fairy maiden…http://www.webhistoryofengland.com/?p=431
Fairy vale image…http://www.templates.com/blog/ethereal-fairies-digital-paintings/
Fairy-1860…http://free-extras.com/images/fairy-1860.htm
Canoe with a view…http://www.planbooktravel.com.au/australia/tours/region/nsw/south-coast
*******************************************************************************
I also made a card for LOVE and a FAIRY. This card fulfills this week's mid-week throw down at  

 This is scanned ( I took a break from the tempermental camera)
Ivory Mica Card Stock by CALIFORNIA PAPER GOODS, hand made metallic paper rec'd as RAK, Fairy image from a Collage Sheet by ALPHA STAMPS. All flowers by PRIMA MARKETING. top sentiment stamp by STAMPIN' UP, bottom sentiment by AUTUMN LEAVES. Brads by MAKING MEMORIES. Gold Stickles by RANGER.


Thursday, June 23, 2011

OOOPS, I goofed on the date, LOL

My tea Party post will not be until the 25th. To think how I rushed around today in the heat and humidity.
 JEEZ...what a dummy...anyway. I may be back later with some other stuff.

BUT I still will be giving away a banner from the Tea Party.  and I am still planning something extra in order to celebrate my birthday.  My followers as of yesterday, by commenting on the TEA PARTY post will be eligible for something else being given away. NOTHING OUTRAGEOUS, just a little something, as a way of saying thanks for being a loyal follower. (1 giveaway to 5 followers)

I will give you some info on my TEA PARTY post, so you know what to expect. I'll be posting a short story called the  Tea-Kettle, so have a beverage and be prepared for a bit of reading, but it is an awesome tale.

Peppered throughout the post will be images (not great ones) of my little make shift TEA PARTY on my birthday afternoon, yesterday in between thunder storms. just me, the hubs and the animals...we didn't even have tea it was too hot we were drinking crystal light, and had cake, I did have a small tea set set up. we did a photo shoot and hurried back inside.  I do not look great, I'll give you fair warning...the humidity has my hair waving and frizzing, and I am sans bra, and hubs hair is a bit messy also. not to mention my "hormonal acne" is acting up.  HOW MUCH I LOVE being a woman at times...NOT!

But it is who we are simple country folks.  I hope you'll honor me with your presence on the 25th for the TEA PARTY post.  Tomorrow is fairy day, so I'll have something up for that also.

so see ya later and sorry about my date mess-up.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

a quick card, and Happy Birthday to me...

Hello, I am a "Longest Night Baby" for more than one reason...1.) the date of my birth, and  2.) when my mom went into labor, and 3.) the fact that it was 1960, and I was breech, so MOM had a really long night!
Today I am 25 with 25 years experience, and 1 extra year for good luck! LMAO!!

I am not going to put any hoop-di-do on my blog today, as tomorrow is the Mad Tea Party blog hop, and I will have a minor table setting for Tea and cake with hubby and I outside. I hope to have us both in some kind of hat. It is not really called a MAD-HATTER tea party, but I think it would add to the MADness.

I am in the middle of making a pennant banner for this little soiree, that will be given away to one of the tea party commentors. HOWEVER, I am giving away 1 extra secret prize to 5 of my true and long time followers. That means anyone that is a PUBLIC follower of my blog as of TODAY, will be eligible.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's post, it will have the info of the tea party, and a link to the list if you feel like hopping it is be hosting by "A FANCIFUL TWIST". Plus it will contain what is needed from you my true and long time followers to be in the running for one of the 5 secret prizes.

OK, now for some small art, a card. This card fulfills 2 challenges.

DezinaWorld  to celebrate our town state or country
and Do You Stack Up Challenge Blog to use a star


 Real Red card stock by STAMPIN' UP, striped paper-old MAKING MEMORIES, star paper by Kim Anderson for PROVOCRAFT, border punch and embosser by MARTHA STEWART, Free Blackfoot Native American image, Free "America" Subway ad, I cut up, and digi sentiment by RAINDROP ECHO DESIGNS-"Have a beautiful Summer"(also cut, but used the whole thing)
Misc.: ribbon, red bling, Bakers, twine, Large Metal Star charm, Foam tape.
The Star, Native American, and ALL words EXCEPT "Have a Beautiful Summer" are floated on the foam tape













Picture issues, anyone?

Is anyone else having issues uploading pictures to their Blogger blogs today? Just curious to see if it is just me.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Father's day and so much more!

Happy Father's day to everyone out there who is a dad, acts like a dad, wants to be a dad, is just like a dad or a dad-to-be!!


Today is Father's day for my husband as well as everyone else's husband. Yet it is sooo much more.
Ten years ago today; Father's day 2001, Ron had a massive Heart Attack, it took over 18 hours for his cardiac enzymes to get more normal. After a stress test on Thursday afternoon, they send him home on Thursday evening. Everyone was notably happy and a bit surprised that he had borderline damage, as well as lived through it. (NOTE: his symptoms started somewhere around 3am, he did not say anything to me until 9am....%$#@^& MEN!!)

Friday was a day that was uneventful. 

Saturday we got up, and I was making breakfast, while he was playing on the computer, and he said to me my arm is bothering me, I am going to go lay on the couch. (his left arm) I was concerned(being an educated health care worker). I told him I thought perhaps we should go back to the hospital. He waved me off. Twenty minutes later, he said "Ok, I'll go back."
Sure enough he had a 2nd heart attack in the same area of the heart. He was kept in the ICU for 3 days and then was sent to Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital where he would undergo Angiography, and possible stenting or whatever.  the whatever turned out to be a double bypass.

That started our summer from Hell, as I ended up having a kidney stone that wouldn't pass, my Mom ended up in the hospital down in FL with chest pains...no heart attack, but she needed 5 bypasses, which were followed by infections in one of her leg incisions. Then they had her on too many BP medications, and he kept passing out, they had lowered it so low., and In August we had to put my beautiful White GS "Honey" down (tumor enveloping her bladder and ureters)...then of course we all know what happened on Sept. 11.

anyway...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY RONNIE!! and CONGRATULATIONS on this your TENTH ANNIVERSARY of SURVIVING a MASSIVE HEART ATTACK!!! I love you and am OH SOOO GRATEFUL that you are STILL HERE WITH US!!

Here is the card I made for him, I'm keeping the inside to myself :)


Card stock by STAMPIN' UP, Printed paper-BASIC GREY-Olivia, German scrap by COLLAGE STUFF, roses rec'd as a RAK, Top sentiment computer generated, bottom sentiment by RAINDROP ECHO DESIGNS, Prisma color pencils and blending pencil, Digi Image--Unknown, can anyone help with that?

another page for my dark journal

I have tried at least 4 times to get good photos of this, and it is just not happening, my apologies, what you see is the best I was able to get.

 It is hard to tell but on the Mummy, and on the title (My Family Sucked the Life out of Me) I have RANGER's rock candy crackle distress paint. On the Sub-title (I Was a Good Mummy. Really I Was) there is diamond glaze. It is also floated above the page on roam tape. Both titles, computer generated by me with Transylvania font from SCRAPPINFONTS.
 Background paper is the graveyard paper from MARTHA STEWART, which has some of the tombstones shiny enamel, misc black card stock, white card stock by GEORGIA-PACIFIC, Stamps- CLOSE TO MY HEART--Halloween Dingbats. Edged with MOMENTO Tuxedo black ink.Misc.- safety pins, that smudged a bit of black STAZ-ON ink on, Black string beads. White grosgrain ribbon by STAMPIN' UP.
 The back, which has more space for writing, misc. gray card stock. Printed paper by PRIMA MARKETING. Again, edged with MOMENTO Tuxedo Black ink. The end of the black bead string tied in a knot, and glued in place
 close-ups shot on  the macro setting


This journal page fills 3 challenges at Smeared and Smudged:
June's "oh the Horror"...kids and dead things
June's Guest designer challenge...mono-Black,white and shades of gray
June's funk junk funk...use safety pins

Saturday, June 18, 2011

some new cards and other good stuff

I have been very busy with doctor appts and tests, and some bigger art projects that I haven't made any cards lately. I also have not joined any challenges in  a dog's age, I have to remedy that!


Recently I was lucky enjoy to be one of 7 recipients of a bunch of free craft and art supplies from a friend of a friend, who was De-Stashing her craft studio.  She does a lot of sewing and fabric arts so for her Thank you card, I used that theme.
 Head on pic a bit blurry sorry. This is a Gate-Fold card.
 The Card stock is a deep red-orange, not sure of the Brand. the printed papers are from
OCTOBER AFTERNOON- Modern homemaker, The Thrift Shop, and 5 & Dime paper pads, I used embroidery floss and 3 buttons for trim, and a fine tip sharpie for "stitches" on the Hexagons (CREATIVE MEMORIES punches) sentiment by STAMPIN' UP
 The Inside :)
I think she'll like it :)

Here is my first ever "ruffle" card, called such due to the layers of fancy border cuts.

 Card base is pre-made, printed papers are  by PROVO CRAFT and the pink diamond, I do not know the brand. Digi-Stamp by SLEIKJE. Colored with STAMPIN' UP markers. Misc. green ribbon, Half of a border Punch by MARTHA STEWART-Diamond Trim Fence

Then I tried my hand at my first ever "Z" fold card
 All older Card stock, and the matching printed paper is also old by PROVO CRAFT, and the little Bebe critters paper is by PRIMA MARKETING, 3 stamps all by AUTUMN LEAVES. Mini flowers by PRIMA MARKETING, 2 dew drops, and RANGER liquid pearls



Now I want to share with you some pics of the goodies I rec'd in the mail from the above mentioned friend's friend:
 There is SOOO much here, I didn't empty out the bags, which are jam-packed, A wonderful package of mulberry papers (good ones), a container of letters to go (something like over 1500 letters printed on both sides)  a little rabbit doll to dress, a large stamp, ink pad, some EP, lots of little embellishments and doo-dads, even a little mini treasure chest, filled with mini dice and mini sequence and large silver snowflake sequence. A punch, a BN glue runner, a bird chipboard book, fancy tape, mini card decks, lots of sticker sheets etc, etc.   close-up images below




Additionally I recently won blog candy of a Water color Art Journal, and a box of markers to use in it. But Tami (Raeven's Nest) was generous and added in some other goodies. Here is her blog post:
and here is my pic: