Smile

 One thing I love in Istanbul is the ice cream.  I don't know how to say it's better than USA ice cream, but it is.  It's just lighter, creamier, so much better.  Here's the conundrum, the door to my place is literally RIGHT next to an ice cream place.  RIGHT NEXT IT.  I can't go home without walking to an ice cream place.  And, we're talking about a place with three scoops for like .89  OMG, it's a constant temptation.  CONSTANT.  

Happy Father's Day

 Here's a cute project that I made at this year's scrapbook convention in Irving Texas. It's a cute little BBQ grill that has a little light in it.  You can press the PUSH button and it lights up behind the vellum making it look like a little flame.  Of course on the photo it just looks like a bright light. It's so much cuter in person!

Here's a photo of the grill for the Father's Day Card

Here's the Grill when it's lit up

These cute little light circuits are available from Pear Blossom Press.

Guest Designer Gayle

Here's a beautiful card made by Gayle T of Texas.  We did this card in March during the spring break convention in Irving Texas.  Oh what fun.  I loved these kits from Simple Stories.  They make lovely cards.  We had so much fun together.

 

End of week 3

 Happy Friday everyone!  It's the end of week 3.  wow, feels like I both just got here and like I have always been here.  I am very acclimated and still super excited about well, everything.  The food, the people, the sites, and well, the LACE!!  what fun.  Here's a great Unity card today, so I made this one for the DH, but you all know the sentiment just made me laugh, but far from true when I am sitting in Istanbul!!  Now, if HE was sitting here and I was sitting at home,  that would S&CK. lol.

Life Captured

 Here's a wonderful card using some great stickers and die cuts from Simple Stories.  I found a booth at the last scrapbook show with wonderful card stock stickers, papers, die cuts, and more!!  I bought all kinds of things and sat down and made a ton of wonderful cards for sharing.  I think this one is just perfect theme for now!  Life Captured

at some level that is my blog, but this summer i'll be sharing some great photos of Turkiye on FB, so check it out.

For the DH

Here's a card today for the DH. I hope he is doing well this summer.  I am sure he's loving (well, enjoying at least) the bachelor life for a couple months this summer.  I know I probably bother him with periodic texting but i do just miss him.  Here's a little card to make him smile.

 

Memories

I thought this was a perfect card for my trip. It shows a globe, and it has three sentiments that are perfect for the occasion. "Follow your heart" "go, see, do" and "Memories"

How perfect is that?  I made this card from a combination of products from Simple Stories.

 Hope your summer is going well.  May we all be doing the list of things on this card!

Best Friends

A lot of people's first question when I tell them I am going to Turkiye in the summer, especially when they find out I go alone as opposed to traveling with my husband who has to work, am I from there?  do I know anyone there?  I do have some friends that I have made along the way. I personally have found Turkiye to be fairly friendly.  I do have one friend that i met stateside when I was in college, so we were friends a very long time before I went to see her the first time I went to Turkiye.

My first couple of times I stayed with her in her home.  I mean, you can only invite yourself so many times to stay with someone, esp if you want to be there for two months.  Now I use AirBNB, I have been staying with the same lady that last several summers.  We are good friends at this point.  But I absolutely pay her.  She's super for the price!  if you need a place to stay, lmk I will pass on her info.  Unless you are going in summer, 'cuz i'm there, lol.

 we are hoping to travel together this summer as well. I am hoping to see Bursa and the surrounding area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with her.

Guest Designer Margreet

 Here's a wonderful creation from Margreet.  One of my winners in February.  She made this beautiful card.  Check out her amazing blog here: Just swingin' by to say Happy Birthday to Irene (margreets-scrapcards.blogspot.com)

You light up my life!

 

Here's a cute card I made at the convention with some assorted supplies that I bought from Scrap That! Who sells Simple Stories papers, cards, cut outs, kits,....the bling I won from Eyelet Outlet.  I made this cute card for the DH.  "You light up my life!"  how cute is that?  I hope it gives him a smile today.

Thanks Dear

 well, I count this as day 10 since I arrived so late on day 1, I didn't get to do anything but get to my place of stay from the airport.  Wow, has it already been 10 days.  most people would tell me that they only get 10 (OR LESS) days on their whole vacation.  I tell them, work a job that's as low paying as mine and you will get off all summer....Bwhahahaha  well, i am just partially kidding, I do love my job, esp the summer off part, but esp the cute little kiddos.

Here's a cute card using a Unity Stamp today, don't we all need a big coffee?  well, i must say, coffee is a big deal here, but I don't ever see any BIG coffee size.  I think there is a Starbucks, well, it's Istanbul, so of course there is a Starbucks, but any normal restaurant, you don't see grandee sized coffee.

Thanks to the DH for that awesome christmas gift of a plane ticket that got me here!  WOO HOO.  You are totally the best ever

Faith Illustrated

 Here's a great set of papers from Faith Illustrated that I used to create this card at the Mega Make and Take at the last convention in Irving Texas in March.  I thought this was very applicable now since I am so very greatful to be on vacation in Turkiye.

"Be incredibly thankful for this life. It's a blessing from above."  How perfect is that?!

honey

Here's a little love card for my Honey!  In fairness I rarely call him honey because I have a sister whose name is Honey.  But in this case i think he'll know who I mean.  I am missing you honey! Have a great day. I am using some great pink Turkish lace on this SEI card.  You'll notice in the title I left the word honey uncapitalized on purpose.

Happy Birthday Cousin

 Wishing you a very happy birthday today.  May all your dreams come true this year.  Huge hugs from Turkiye.  Cheers, Holley

Sharing this card from a sweet kit by Simple Stories today.  I love their fun and simple card making kits.

Happy Day!

Now I am really getting excited being in Istanbul.  Today is a Happy Day!  let's have some new adventures everyone.  Is new adventure lace shopping?  it should be, lol!  I can't believe it's a new week here in Istanbul, how I am already here for a week?  Most people only get a week of vacation.  What a blessed person I am.

 

Guest Designer Jan E

Here's a fun card made by Guest Designer Jan E of Texas!  She and I made a set of these card from PhotoPlay when we were at the last convention in Irving Texas.  What fun we had! 

 

YOU....are my person

 Thinking of you DH. Hope you are having a great weekend.  love you dearly.  Hope the rest of you are also having an awesome weekend.  I know I am planning on it here in Istanbul.  There's lots to do here, whatever should I start with, hmmm, perhaps, LACE?

Happy Birthday Dad

 Wishing my Father a very happy birthday today.  I hope the family has some nice plans for him.  Hugs from Turkiye!   Chose this Bark-day card for him as I know he loves dogs.  This cute set comes from Hero arts and of course, had to have some orange lace to go with it!

And let it begin....

 I know it's actually been a day or two, but i actually usually take a day or two of delirium where I have no sleep and I am living on sheer excitement and exhaustion at the same time.  So today is more like the first day where I actually got some sleep and NOW i am really having a FIRST DAY.  WOW.  Happy to be here.

Love you Lots

Sharing this Love you Lots card for the DH today.  I will be posting lots of cards for him over the summer so he can check my blog and see some love :)  Miss you already dear.  He wasn't with me when I departed Austin TX so I really do already miss him even though i have recently arrived in Istanbul.

 

Yay!

 I made this fun card at the last convention with some wonderful papers from Simple Stories. It's travel themed so perfect for today when I will be arriving in Istanbul at night. I will be totally exhausted as I won't have slept much at all on the plane without a cpap.  You would think I would just go to my residence and fall right asleep but it's my excitement of being in Istanbul plus the time change that keeps me from actually sleeping the first couple days.  Weird.  Happens every time. Is this what they mean by jet lag?

Off I go!

Off I go today. I am so excited. I thought this Follow your Heart card was just perfect for the occasion.  This cute card kit comes from Simple Stories. I highly recommend their cute little kits.  Fun.  Gonna be a very LONG LONG trip to Istanbul (from start to finish over 24 hours until I get to my final destination).  Not all that time is on a plane of course, but layovers, airports, etc.

 

Guest Designer Gayle

Leaving tomorrow for Turkiye!  I thought this card was just perfect for the occasion. I am ready to go see all my dear friends there.  Though of course I am leaving tomorrow, it will actually be Tueday evening Turkish time before I arrive. This is a guest designer card made by none other than my mom Gayle T.

 Have a wonderful summer everyone! Be sure and watch my blog for some fun esp during July when I will be a guest designer for Unity stamps and giving away a wonderful prize!!

Cheers, Holley

Love Shaker

 Here's a little love theme shaker for the DH today. I hope he's having a blast on his trip. In the meantime I am packing up a storm and getting ready to shut down the store today.  If there's anything you need, hurry by and pick it up!

Have a great day.  Check out my lace store, I close this MORNING CST USA time for the time being, until I come back from vaction (approx Aug 3rd). Lots of pre-cut lace packages, yard cut lace packs, wonderful lace embellishments: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Happy Last Day!

It's the last day of school for Teachers. We'll be having a long meeting and then I'll be done. I don't know what else happens in the afternoon but I will only work my typical half day.  YES, or as the card says, HECK YES!!  So glad we are done and it's time for vacation.  Wish John was home to celebrate with me.

 Have a great day.  Check out my lace store, I have just today and part of tomorrow before I close down for a couple months. Lots of pre-cut lace packages, yard cut lace packs, wonderful lace embellishments: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy