Happy Sunday, Friends!!!  Just getting in on the end of the current MIM challenge at PTI...'Angled Backgrounds'.  This was a fun technique, and I found myself wanting to experiment further each time...so I did...using different focal points along the way. First using PTI's 'Heart Prints', a Studio Calico frame and a hodge-podge of papers...

...I liked that color scheme!  And I was pleased with the results of the added dab of trim.  So then I thought...how about MORE trim (maybe I shouldn't have...maybe less really is more;)...and a totally different color scheme...from Pink Paislee's Color Wash...

...that's PTI's 'Wonderful Words: Love' and the 'YOU' from 'Everyday Happiness'.  And then yet another color scheme using their Kraft pattern pack of paper which I thought was perfect for this technique...

I thought popping up the flower and adding the little banner added a fun touch.

The focal point there is from 'With All My Heart'.
How fun!!!  This technique really grew on me.  And...maybe it would have been different had I not used trim...that added some bulk...but I really felt the need to stitch all those layers down.  I wouldn't have trusted my adhesive, and felt the edges looked nicer when it was all stitched down.

As you can tell by my photos...I rely on natural light...which can definitely be a problem with short cloudy winter days.  Today, my source of light came from this...

I use that corner of my husband's desk and the light from that window for photos...and yes, the blizzard is upon us...although the blowing and drifting hasn't started yet, and the temps have not yet dropped...we still have that to look forward to!;) This shot is from the front door looking across the street...

We already had a pretty decent snow on the ground that had started to melt...I would say about 3" of what you're looking at is the fresh stuff that started overnight!  BUT...We're good to go, I think.  My worrying hubby, whose job relies on schools being open, is in...of all places...HAWAII, visiting the oldest and his new family.  I think it's going to be 84 there today.  As long as my pipes don't freeze during the next night or two...the kids and I will be fine. And I should probably say, as long as I don't lose my internet...I might just go crazy if that happens! LOL I'll be counting on you gals for lots of interesting inspiration over the next week...I'm guessing the kids will remain home from school the entire week, and that we'll be going NOWHERE for the next 3 days at a minimum.  Nothing like togetherness! I am so thankful we're warm and safe, and worry about those who may not be.
Snuggle up tight, everyone!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

~geri~

Happy New Year, Everyone!  I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to a fresh new year of crafting! And so is FUSION...we're all ready to go with our first challenge for the new year...

Lots of ways to go here...no matter what your style!  I chose to do a little fusing of the sketch and photo with some old Papertrey Heart Prints...

I was a little liberal with the sketch...

but that's the fun of it, right?

You'll find LOTS of inspiration over at the FUSION blog...we've welcomed some new members to the team...faces that I'm sure will be familiar to you...

Betty J
Cathy Weber 
Dannielle Robeson
Deepti
Geri Freeman
Julia Aston
Katie Brooks
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Wiener 

Lyndal Higgins

Lynn Mangan 

Michelle Williams

Michelle Lupton

Sindhu
Stephanie Severin

We'd sure love to have you join us for this first challenge of 2014!

Thanks so much for stopping in!

~geri~

I feel like a stranger, anyway!  Wanted to quickly share a few things before I race off again, and I'm happy to say...my long string, about a month and a 1/2, of crazy CRAZY weeks is just about to wrap up.  After Sunday, I'll hopefully be breathing a huge sigh of satisfied relief.  Just say a little prayer, if you would, that an approaching winter storm doesn't put a kink in our dress rehearsal plans for the kids at church this evening, as well as the program on Sunday, and my oldest's Christmas Spectacular with the high school music department that day, too!  Wouldn't have traded my special Christmas projects for anything, but I'm so ready to sit back and enjoy the normal hustle and bustle of the holidays.  For starters, I'm late in sharing this card I made for Precious Remembrance a couple weeks ago...

The card on the PR blog was actually photographed at our resort at Disney over Thanksgiving break.  I desperately needed sunlight for it and just couldn't find it here at home that last 24 hours before the trip.  It was made using the Border Tape 1 set and the Positive Thoughts set.  Today, you'll find this card over at the PR blog...

...using the same sets. Next up...yesterday was nursing home day...

There's my dear sweet Maddy and myself.  Can't photograph many of the participating residents for confidentiality reasons, but I was glad to get this shot of the two of us to share with you.  She is THE sweetest Christian woman...Oh, how I've enjoyed getting to know her!  Here are the cards we made...

If you are a newer follower...I go once a month to make cards with the residents at a local nursing home. This time I had 20 cards prepared and ready to assemble.  I pre-stamp what I can, and have everything pre-cut and ready to go. This time they chose the sentiment for the inside, and that was all they needed to stamp. They also got to choose one of 3 snowmen (or two smaller ones) from a K&Co set of layered die cut stickers. And...you know...more than likely, there are residents in a facility near you that would look forward this same thing!  You should give it a try!  It would make a great new goal for the new year...and I promise you...you would love it as much as they do!

And before I go...allow me, if you would...Here's my Mrs. Claus and her hubby...

Her outfit was another Christmas project...

One of our favorite Disney sights...

What they do to that castle with music and lights is amazing!  Everyone should get to see it once!
My Jonah boy...

...all snuggled up in his new hat...waiting to head back home to chilly temps.
And the big boy (Caleb)...

...marching up the street at Hollywood  Studios to perform with his band and 5 others from across the country.
I could go on and on...but I'll spare you!  Just know it has been QUITE the holiday season with memories we'll never forget!!!  Thanks so much for letting me share!  Have a great day and thanks so much for your visit!!!
~geri~

Hello everyone!  I've got some great news...and I hope you are as excited as I am that one of my favorite challenges is back...FUSION!!! Yippee!!!  A new challenge is up and you've got lots of time to enter...

This one will take us through the rest of the year...along with an open DT call...more excitement!!!  Then the new team and regular challenges will be up and running every two weeks to start off 2014.  Feel free to create for the challenge, or, if you love the challenge as much as I do, you'll want to check the blog for details of applying for the DT...that's a separate process.

Now...I found myself in a bit of a pickle for this challenge, as I had forgotten that I'd loaned my Christmas stamps and cartridges to a friend, thinking I was done with most of my Christmas creating.  Crafty time is on short supply around here, and the Festive Friday blog had wrapped up it's final challenge, so I passed my things along to someone else with a little more time on her hands and a mission to get her cards done.  Went downstairs at the last minute to whip something up for this re-opening challenge and thought,..."Oh...my golly...I don't have much to work with!"  So I did the best I could with what I had (Hero Arts wreath, PTI impression plate and die and a misc. sentiment), and used the photo for my inspiration...

 I just know the new year will settle my schedule down, (It has to...can't keep this pace up for much longer!) and I'll be ready for a fun...new...creative year with FUSION!!!

Be sure to check the rest of the DT's creations for more inspiration!  They are all as excited as I am to be back!  Thanks so much for stopping in, and have a great day!!!

Kelly 

Lynn
Lyndal
Dannielle (guest DT)

FUSION

~geri~

Hello, Friends!!!
Excited to post my final project for Festive Friday, 2013 today!  It has been such a fun year, and a joy to create for Christmas all year long and get to know so many who enjoyed doing the same thing!!!  For this final challenge, players can choose their favorite challenge inspiration from the year, and create as many projects as they like.  Two prizes are being offered up...A grand prize of a $60 online gift certificate for a random regular player...a player who enters and has played in at least 15 of the 20 challenges.  Then a $20 gift certificate will go to one random player from all those who have created for this final challenge...even if it's your first time with us!!!

Several of the challenge inspirations were considered for my final project...

...obviously the 'bird element' challenge (birdies are a favorite for me)...the 'star' challenge would have also worked here.  Overall I went for a peaceful feeling, though...

...and kept things clean and simple...

I used my Cricut for the branch, birds and nest.  My PTI Birds and Blooms set, which I haven't thanked Marcie enough for, includes a nest image that fit perfectly on my Cricut nest...I was hoping it would.  My little window to the night-time sky was created with an old Spellbinder die.

And that's it folks!!!  That's really IT!!!  (until next year anyway!)  The inspiration from the rest of the team is perfection, as always...so honored to work with these gals!!!  So be sure to pop over to the blog if you need a jump start!  Can't wait to see what is created for this final challenge and who the winner will be from our faithful players!  You have 2 weeks!!!  Good luck everyone!!!

~geri~

Popping in quickly to let you know I have a card up at the Precious Remembrance blog today using the new DIY set...

I'm a little late with that post...the 'busy-ness' continues here, as hubby is out of town for most of the week and I've got my hands full in an overdue home dec. project, nursing home cards, and the kids' Christmas play at church.  And I have to share a little story that has made me chuckle a couple times this week as I've raced from project to project...although it didn't exactly make me chuckle at the time.  There was a teacher's assistant filling in for the secretary at my kid's school earlier in the week, when I was signing in to drop off my kid's lunches...she had seen me dropping the kids off earlier that morning as she was walking into the building. As I was signing in, she asked..."so did you go home and go back to bed this morning?"  (What did she just say???)  I hope the look on my face wasn't too nasty-looking as I processed her question and finally said...'um...no'.  And I wanted to say...'and I was so disappointed that I couldn't seem to find time for my soaps and bon-bons today, either!'...but, I didn't;)  So I do want to thank the ever-SWEET Dyane of Precious Remembrance for understanding! She is one of THE sweetest gals out there!  (She's a busy mom, herself!  And she's a great 'cheerleader', to boot!!!)  If all 'bosses' were that nice...I think there would be an awful lot of happy and motivated employees in the world;)  Thanks, Dyane!!!

Thanks, everyone, for dropping in!!!  Have a great weekend!!!

~geri~

Hey everyone!  Seems like an ETERNITY since I've posted!!!  Wouldn't want to miss today, though...Dyane has two new sets in the shop at Precious Remembrance!  And...to celebrate...she's hosting a little blog hop!  Two lucky winners will get to check out a new set for free!!!  Here they are...

Border Tape #1

and...

...DIY!

I've used the DIY set for today's project.  LOVE the little paint spatters...

I added some glossy accents there...and the cool chevron looking border!  I had fun adding some color to that...

...pencils and water...the rest is pretty straight forward!  Now...if you'd like a chance to win one of these sets, just leave a comment on the designers blogs and at the PR blog...you have until this Sunday night! Here's the list...

Precious Remembrance
Kim Duran
Geri Freeman (that's me!)
Kim Bell
Lisa Elton
Sue Lelli

Happy hopping, friends!!!
~geri~