I Love You

Here's one of my favorites from the new images by Notturno Digital Arts, this cute rag doll.  You can find her as a freebie on the Notturno Digital Arts Facebook page (HERE);    I can't wait until she comes out with a complete set of these images and put them on sale in her store on Etsy.

Can you believe we are about to hit May?  WHAT?  where did April go?

DID YOU MISS THE PRIZES?

Yesterday Blog candy was announced, be sure and sign up on yesterdays posting-- HERE
https://holleybarnhartsblog.blogspot.com/2020/04/love-this-life-million-hit-blog-candy.html

Love this Life--MILLION HIT BLOG CANDY TODAY

This image has to be one of the prettiest Besties! I just love her.  She looks like she is wearing a princess crown (or maybe a birthday crown), oh, think of the occasions you could use this image!  Super cute.  Check out all of Sherri's wonderful stamps at www.MyBestiesShop.com

I can't believe that we are already at the end of April.  Wow.  It has been a very weird month, huh?  two months I suppose.  This is definently a year that we will all remember, all of us, world wide.

BLOG CANDY

I love this cute stamp with a Crown, I thought today would be a perfect today to do a sign up for a prize for my MILLION BLOG  HIT COUNTER PRIZE!!

WOO HOO!!  Let's all celebrate my blog hitting a million.  Right now (it's just over 996,500), so there's a little ways to go.  I'll pick three winners in the USA, three winners outside the USA.  The fun this time is I will let YOU pick your prizes, YEP that's right, I am going to post photos of the goodies and let the winners choose what they get this time.  By random order, pick your goodies.  I will take some prize photos to share soon enough!

LEAVE a comment today, be sure to say if you are IN the USA or OUT of the USA.  I will write everyone's name on a slip of  Paper put them in 2 piles and draw when we hit a million!

On May 9th the pictures of the prizes will appear HERE:
https://holleybarnhartsblog.blogspot.com/2020/05/guest-designer-yvonne-plus-heres-prizes.html

Self Isolation

Here's a cute card from Ike's Art today. I just adore her cat images. TOO cute. There's a great challenge (HERE) that you can enter all your cat cards in all month long.  Be sure and drop by over there as there is a freebie that I know you will want.  This month's image is SUPER CUTE.

Hope you have been staying home and safe this month.  There's no real end in site to this new form of life that we all have.  I can recall it going from, Hmmm, they are cancelling that event? to, everyone start wearing masks everywhere you go, you can't travel anywhere outside or in some cases inside the USA, and stay home! It's only been about 6 weeks.  Seems a lot longer huh?

On my mind...

Sharing this cute Unity theme card today. I just love all their cute animal images.  This penguin is too dear.  I had to have him (and all his pals).  I am missing all my pals, pals from school, pals from abroad, pals from the neighborhood, pals from Church....You are all on my mind!

I can't believe this is already the last week of April.  Not much school to go now.  Things in my state are reopening, despite the fact that we have not hit our highest level of the virus yet.  Everything is seeming a little unbelievable.

Ahhh, Spring

Here's a lovely spring card from a kit I got and completed a couple years ago when in Istanbul.  It was from what had to be the only "scrapbook" type store I saw, it had machines like Sizzix and dies and die cuts and much to my delight, some card making kits from Europe that I had never seen before. I had a good time grabbing goodies of things from Europe that I haven't gotten before.

During my last visit, that same store didn't have as much scrapbooking items, but they still had one of my handmade cards proudly in their window.  How cool was that?  (when I am walking around in Turkiye, I often keep a handful of handmade cards and business cards in my bag, to share with shops or people that I meet who are also crafters.)

Guest Designer Sandra

Here's a wonderful creation from Sand van Blaricum using one of her adorable prizes.  Isn't this dog so cute? I just love her layout and the super great coloring!  Check out her amazing creations on her blog HERE

Love

Here's another brand new stamp from Artist Sandra Caldwell, it's 3140 Cool as a Button.  TOO cute. I just love her awesome glasses and that big flower on her hat  Super cute.   Sandra will be uploading this image and several other new stamps into her Etsy store, Babycakes DND today, so be sure to check out all her new images.

I can't believe are a just a week to the end of April.  WOW.  There's just 25 dats of online schooling left and this life is starting to be the norm.  

Sweet Spring Gnome

Here's the cutest new stamp from Sherri Baldy, don't you just love it?  She has a whole set of these adorable little guys and they are TOO CUTE.  Check them out in her MyBestiesShop.com  He's called Sweet Spring Gnome img 1156.

I had to add some great lace (from a local shop, not from Turkiye) to frame him. I think he is just perfect that way.  Have a great day!

I'm not fat!

Here's a funny card using a great image from Ike's Art.  It says, "I'm not fat, I'm Fluffy"  Wish I could claim that, but I think my body would have to scream out, you're not fluffy, lol!  I thought it was pretty funny though.  This staying at home behind a computer is really NOT helping the diet.

I am used to walking to school, running around all day, walking home and passing out exhausted.  Now I am sitting all day, at best on the couch reading documents or behind a computer and snacking.  EEEEK.  This has got to stop, lol.  I need something to sew my mouth shut, HA!

There's a great cat theme challenge HERE with an adorable freebie from Ike's Art, you know you want to go over there and grab it!!

Thank you Nurses!

Here's a card I made using an image from a wonderful set of Freebies from Tiddly Inks.  These images were available on their Facebook site (try HERE).  I made two cards using them so far and sent them along with about 85 other cards to the local nursing home that is at the end of my street.  I just wanted to do some outreach to my local neighbors who I know have really been in "lock down".

They have been confined to their rooms, social distancing, unable to leave, have visitors, etc.  I thought some wonderful handmade cards would make their day.  I also sent cards for some nurses and the other office staff.  I really hoped it brightened everyone's day.  Perhaps if you know a local nursing  home nearby, reach out to them!  This home was one that my dear neighbor lived in for a while before passing.  He was a volunteer there for years and years while he lived next door and his sister in law lived in the facility and when he finally needed a home to go to, he went there.  So It's a place I have visited quite a number of times.

Let it Shine

Here's the cutest image from Notturno Digital Arts.  I just love these big eye girls!  TOO CUTE.  She is giving away a number of freebies on her fabulous Facebook group CLICK HERE.  You can find her stamps at her store on Etsy HERE.

This cute card says, "Let it shine."  I thought that was just the perfect theme for this sweet image.  She just added a cute sloth (how can they be cute?--check out the one in her store) and a coffee cup, think I NEED those stamps.  Eeek, I just went back and checked, there's also a cute camper and a bear stamp that I just NEEEEDDD!!

OK, so I have been thinking about PRIZES for my 1,000,000 blog visitor, there's a couple things to think about, who to chose (or how to let people sign up to win) and what to give.  I am thinking I always just send out prizes, but this time I am going to do a little shop where I put up photos of the prizes, whoever is drawn as the 1st prize winner can pick so many items, the 2nd winner and so on....How does that sound?  just thinking up ideas

Hello Sunshine

Here's a sweet little  image from The Cat's Pajamas stamps that I am using for this sweet card for their current challenge on there TCP Tuesday Challenge   The theme this month is Share Hope.  I think this sweet image is very HOPEFUL.  It's too cute

If you are anything like us, you have gotten quite a bit of rain lately.  Hard to tell really, I feel like I am locked up in the house all the time.  But cardmaking is definitely a ray of sunshine.

So many of you probably see my blog on your phone and many other don't look, I mean why would you, but my counter for page hits is about to cross 1 MILLION!!  when I wrote this on Friday night in prep for my Monday posting, we were at 995, 5435, so assuming you are checking it out on Monday, you can see where we are now.  Knowing me, I can not just let this event pass without a little prize or two going out.....hmmmm, my mind is thinking about it, stay tuned!!

Guest Designer Audrey R

Here's an awesome image from Audrey R of Austin TX.  I just loved this huge flower. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but she actually used this image to do zetangle all over the image.  How cool is that?  WOW. so clever. What a great idea!

Cheers

Here's a super cute image from artist Sandra Caldwell. I am just loving her cute images.  This girl is too cute and you can find her and all of Sandra's other images in her Etsy store Babycakes DND.  I can't believe it's now over a month since I have been in the school. WOW.

if I had know that Thursday when I went home that I wouldn't be coming in, not just Friday, but EVER.   For us even more so since the facility we were at is temporary and we are supposed to be starting off Next August in our new school building, which is even further from home for me.

I'm not perfect...

Here's a super cute image from Notturno Digital Arts stamps. I love this new line of big eye images that this artist has created.  You can check them out in her Etsy store and if you drop by her Facebook page, there's a number of freebies.  TOO cool.  I added a fun sentiment to this card, "I'm not perfect, but parts of me are"

Not sure which parts of me I would claim are actually perfect, but I thought that sentiment was just too cute.  Have a great day everyone.

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom, here's a cute Balloon Shaker card that I created for you. I hope you have a safe and wonderful birthday.

Sharing this cute shaker card from a kit I got at Tuesday Morning. I think it was made from Firefly, but offhand I am not 100%sure.  Super cute kit set though, it made a whole set of adorable birthday themed shake cards.

Cheers, Holley

Welcome Spring

Here's a super cute Taylored Expressions stamp and sentiment.  It's time for spring, though here lately we have actually had days in the upper 80s and even the low 90s.  WOW.  It's like we go straight from cold weather to summer here.

I hope you are getting out of winter and into spring where you are.   We pretty much had a slew of days in the upper 80s then all the sudden WHAM, it went back to the 40s!  WHAT???  Luckily, we are back on our way to summer here.

 Have a great Tuesday.

Hugs, Holley

Make Tea, not war

Here's a fun stamp from Unity Stamps, Love this cute cup stamp.  Off hand I am unsure if this funny saying was a Unity stamp or not, I need to look through a bunch of the new sets I got to ensure it is.  I am pretty sure it did NOT come with this cute cup image (but unity stamps are so interchangeable, I use different stamps with different sentiments all the time).  This funny sentiment stamp might be from The Cat's pajamas.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Here's a darling image from Neat&Tangled. I made this card today to wish all of you a very Happy Easter holiday.  He is Risen. Praise the Lord and thank him for what we have.  Let us all take a moment and pray for all those who are being affected by the current pandemic and pray that it ends soon.

Love and Hugs to the world today.  May Peace surround all of you!

Cheers, Holley

Easter with Oddball Art Stamps

Here's a cute image from artist Lizzy Love of Oddball Arts. I just love her cute stamps, especially the wonderful Girl images she has. I thought I would share this Easter card I made this year.  Check out all of her wonderful stamps HERE.

Have a great day and Happy Easter to you and your family.

Enjoy today

Here's a fun brand new image from Sandra Caldwell today.  She's called 3132 Moving Mona.  She'll be added to the store, Etsy, Babycakes DND today along with a bunch of other wonderful stamps.  Check her out there!

I can't believe it is Easter weekend and not only has my church shut down (now realize, this was happening long before this pandemic, they were closing my church due to size and finances), but ALL churches are shut down.  WOW.  it's still very unbelievable.

Nobody gets me

Here's a hilarious cat theme card using an image from Katzel Krafts.  I just adore this funny cat line of stamps (I believe they are called the fat cats) as you can tell.   I am unsure where this funny saying comes from.  It's one I had stamped up but forgot to mark which stamp I used!  (doh!)  

Hope this funny card gave you a little smile today.  Have a great summery day!

Happy Easter

Here's a funny image from Whipper Snapper today for Easter time. I just adore this cute bunny in his basket. I added a simple easter sentiment from I think, Gerda Sterner designs.    I also used some yummy Turkish Lace on the card to brighten the edges.

Have a great day, hope you find some wonderful treats for Easter!  LOL I asked the store the last time I was in there if they had anything for Easter, the guy looked at me like I was crazy.  I mean I know we are in a pandemic, but I am already getting milk, cheese, eggs,....why not some jelly beans too?  Not like I am going store to store asking for jelly beans.

Hey Chickie

Here's a darling image from a company called Neat&Tangled. I got this adorable Easter theme set from them a while back and made a couple cards to share for Easter time.  TOO CUTE. I just adore this image.  I also of course, added some Turkish lace to the card. I think it goes perfectly.

Hope you are doing well and staying home and out of harms way.  To all my dear friends who are in those industries where you have to be working--the medical staff, the care staff, the drivers, the clerks and store workers.  Bless you and the Lord keep you safe!

Hugs all, Holley

I laid an egg THIS big....

Here's the cutest little duck from Whipper Snapper today. I just can't resist those adorable images from Whipper Snapper.  I got a whole bunch of their stamps recently in Easter theme.  I hope you are enjoying all the Easter cards I made this year.  I don't often have so much time to make holiday cards but this year I was able to create a ton of wonderfully bright easter creations.

Have a great week!  School started back yesterday, I mean the teachers and staff have been working for two weeks getting things ready, but the students themselves came into the mix this week, so we'll see how the new norm goes for all of us.

Cheers, Holley

Easter Greetings

Here's another darling Whipper Snapper image for Easter time along with a sentiment stamp from Unity stamps KOTM.  I hope you are still doing well with all this social distancing. My blog makes me feel a tiny bit closer to the world.  Virtual High Five everyone!

Have a great day and a start to a great week.  My DH and I are both working from home here and not going out but for an occasional walk and stop off at the local store, which is getting more rare.  I am sure many of your have seen that the CDC has now told everyone to start wearing some type of mask, even a cloth mask to cover their faces when out.

If I have any friends out there making them, I'm looking to get one or two (so I can wear one/wash one).  Happy to trade you for crafting goodies, handmade cards, paypal lol....

Thank you cards

I got this cute card making kit and created a whole bunch of fun thank you cards.  They were supposed to all look alike of course, but I can't ever seem to make myself do that.  I did follow the pattern pretty much though.  Here's a little sample of them:

Hope you have a great rest of your weekend.

Guest Designer Susan T.

Here's a stunning multi-layered card that I received recently from a prize winner right here in Austin TX.  Don't you love it?  So beautiful, I just love the reds and how perfect the patterned paper is!  Goes well with that image.    Thanks so very Much Susan! I adore this card.

Easter Wishes

Here's a gorgeous Easter card using a wonderful stamp from Whipper Snapper along with some wonderful lace from Turkiye.  The sentiment stamp comes from Taylored Expressions.
I hope that you are enjoying April and I know that what is going on in the world right now is all surreal and just crazy.  Please stay home and be safe!

Hugs and prayers to all of you.

Happy Easter

sharing this adorable puppy from Whipper Snapper today.  TOO Cute. I just adore their stamps. This one is precious.  Don't you want to make an Easter Basket for your puppy?  Right now if I even think about making an Easter basket for the DH I would probably include some TOILET PAPER, peanut butter, bread and eggs.  What is with people in the local stores.  You would think they were buying up for the summer and there was no way to go to a store again.  GEEZ people!

Guess the DH will just get a hug...wait, have to stay social distancing of 6 foot, I guess the DH will get a cute card from me for Easter this year.

Hugs all!

Holley

New Contest at YSBP

We are having a brand new contest this month over on the Your Scrapbook Place Challenge Blog.  The contest this month is anything goes and entrants get an extra entry if they use our sponsor's images.  I thought this image from Limited Runs was just perfect for the craze that is surrounding us all!!  Funny thing is I picked this image months ago, long before what is currently happening.  Oh, how funny (and NOT SO FUNNY) this image really is. She's called Insane Girl.

Drop by at the Your Scrapbook Challenge Blog and join in the challenge this month.  Share a wonderful creation with us for a chance to win a prize from Limited Runs!