Card #26 for 2026

I enjoy reading so very much.  Although I also

am way too distracted with my phone.  It can be

such a blessing if I stumble across a word I don't know the meaning

of or if I want to look up some facts about the history of 

a certain character I'm reading about.  However, then before I 

know it I'm checking my instagram and facebook and adding 

another book to my amazon cart.  Sigh.  

I did find time to make this card.  I think I will be using this fun 

stamp set from Newton's Nook called Autumn Reads to be 

making book marks for my friends.  Along with a few dried flowers

from my garden.  

This card was straight forward stamping and coloring.  Love that.  

I will enter it in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

Since I've mentioned books, I thought I'd share

my little library. When I last counted I had 629 books.   I didn't know how

I would get this organized so I could remember what I have, but

I found the most amazing app.  (Libib) I installed it on my phone and all you

have to do is either scan the bar code or type the name of the book in manually.

I highly recommend it for book lovers. 

 Such an easy convenient way to keep

them cataloged.  

Here is a picture of one of my flower stands outside. 

Patriot pup is a little darling.. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

2 Tim 2:15 NKJV

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,

 a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ

 

Card #25 for 2026

Dear blog readers, it's been a long time.

I made this card last night but was too exhausted to 

even put it on the blog.  So here I am bright an early

trying to get it done today, before I forget. 

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamps I used for this card are:

Stampin UP:

Life in bloom

Elements of text

Coneflower celebrations

I used the small script stamp on the left hand side 

of the card instead of DSP.  I then splattered stamped

the right side of the card and sponged the edges with a brown

ink to make it look antique.   I chose to play on the words of

the sentiment by only showing a "glimpse" of the flower.  So I 

stamped the image off the sides of the card stock.  The bow was 

a tad tricky as usual.  I should have just stamped and cut a bow

using paper, but I thought the ribbon to be  more appropriate with

keeping with an old-time look.  I love the thought of old letters wrapped

up in ribbons and bows.   Short story:  My husband and I had a long distant

relationship, and we wrote each other every single day, we even marked our envelopes  with highlighters so we'd know they were from each other. 

 36 years later I still have these precious letters.

I often think I should tie them in ribbons and bows.  

Right now they are in shoe boxes.

Kids of today miss out on that with all the texting.  

I have my love's handwriting and thoughts

and it's most precious to me.  I'm so glad we lived in a time

 before computers and phones took over.

 and where writing was still considered valuable and appreciated. 

The morning glories in my garden are in need of a good weeding,

but I can't get it done yet this year.  Recovery takes time. 

The scene out front of my house has my nerves on edge.  Let's hope the end result

will be a beautiful street. 

Patriot pup has the most darling eyes.  

and the little fella knows how to use them to 

his advantage.  Wink

The verse I chose for this card is:

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ

 

Card #24 for 2026

Dear blog readers, we are having extremely cool temps

here in WI.  I know a lot of people are enjoying it.  I prefer

summers to be toasty warm.  Just helps ease the pain.   But

apparently the heat is coming.  

I sat outside for a bit and gave Patriot pup a few of his 

ice chews. He stays cool that way.  I sit under my little umbrella, 

and read my book.  Happy to say that I finally finished Lord Melbourne

book a few days ago.  It was a long time in coming.  But now onto 

the next one and it's sailing.  It is a lovely easy read and keeps a smile

on my face. So that's a bonus.   Oh and I had this dream to card catalog 

my little library, but it seemed overwhelming until I found a lovely app

and all I have to do is scan the barcode and boom it is in the files.  Some 

I have to type manual.. oh the effort.  wink.  but its so amazing. I love it, and I'm

so grateful I came upon this while trying to figure a way to organize my home library~ 

which is really only a few shelves.  I will take a picture someday and share it. 

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamp set I used is stampin up:

Wonder of Christmas 

Any stampin up fans also struggling with the new stampin up ink pads?

I really am not a fan of them with my very clumsy hands.  

Patriot pup just giving me that darling puppy dog look. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

Luke 2:10 NKJV

 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold,

 I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ

 

Card #23 for 2026

Dear blog readers thank you for stopping in for 

a visit.  I'm so happy to be home, and not in the hospital. 

I tried weeding my garden last Saturday, and I'm still paying

for it in pain.  So I figured I might as well just calm down 

and make a card. 

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamp sets I used are stampin Up:

Coneflower celebrations

Irresistible blooms

The smoke has drifted down from Canada to 

WI.   It has a summer haze to it, but it's mostly smoke.

Out front our house, the road is a work zone.  A hard 

shut down they call it.  Thank the LORD we have an alley

we can use to get on our property.

Apparently my Patriot puppy can't take it anymore.  wink

The verse I chose for this card is:

John 6:11 NKJV

And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks

 He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; 

and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

I learned an important message in this verse that convicted my heart.

Notice Jesus Thanked God before the miracle happened of feeding so many.

We must pray with Thanksgiving first and trust God for the miracle. 

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ

 

Card #22 for 2026

Dear blog readers what a day.  I took a veggie supplement, and

I think it gave me a little bit of energy today.  That and trying to 

keep my mind of my troubles.  I kept myself busy, so along 

with making a skillet cookie, homemade biscuits and curry for supper, 

I also made this card which I will enter in the challenge at:

CAS Colours & Sketches

The stampin up sets I used are:

Wildflower path

Irresistible blooms

Sweet strawberry

I stamped and punched out the images.  I also added

a few dimensionals behind the strawberry to lift it up a bit.

I gave it a nice little coating of sparkles with wink of stella too.  

Not strawberries, but my raspberries are coming along nicely.

Unfortunately I'm not about to eat anything with seeds quite yet.

Just too much too worry about, after this past year.  

I picked some of them before the blue jays got them all.

Patriot pup was busy standing guard. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

Matt 3:8 NKJV

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ

 

Card #21 for 2026

 
Dear blog readers, I'm sorry I've been gone again
for awhile.  I miss stamping terribly, but struggling to 
get well. Any ways I'm home for now. Thank the LORD.
I will try to make the most of it.  Here is a card I will enter in 
the challenge at:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 

I used stampin Up:

Ode to Spring. which I only have in French, but I thought

the images were so darling so I purchased it even though I can't read French. 

Learn & Grow.  I always enjoy a cute book/teacher stamp set.

almost as much as Christmas sets. 

I used a lovely DSP for the background behind the little critters.

I'll never get use to stamping when the images don't line up, it's 

suppose to give that natural water coloring sort of look, I just feel

likes it's unfinished but it's done I assure you.  wink. 

My raspberries are coming in nicely, unfortunately, no

gardening for me yet this summer again.  I can't even eat 

the delicious berries yet but hopefully someday.  Hubby is 

enjoying them for now.  

Patriot puppy had his second Birthday on July 4th.

The little fella is growing up.  I will try to add some 

videos to instagram.  

My neighbors the train yard.  I figured I'd better get some pictures

and videos posted of this too on instagram.  My friends like to see

things like this.  It always amazes me that when I tell people what my son 

does for work, they act like trains are no longer a thing. My son is a freight train conductor. 

  I can testify to the fact that trains are still out and about, they run 24/7 never a day off. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

Psalm 42:1 NKJV

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ

Card #20 for 2026

Dear blog readers, trying to get back to stamping has proven to be 

quite a chore lately.  Just got out of the hospital again

 with kidney infection and sepsis.  Praying to Jesus I will be healed. 

So this is the best I can do for today. 

I will enter this card

in the challenge at:

Try a Sketch on Tuesday

The stamp sets I used are, Stampin Up:

Happy 4th of July (single stamp)

Light the sky

Star of light

Deckled circles

Number of years 

Taylored Expression:  Of thee I sing.

The card looked a little plain with just the swirl on top, and

nothing else.  So I added some star washi tape and then die

cut out the numbers in shimmer silver for our Fourth of July

anniversary celebration.  I'm thinking balloons and fireworks 

would have been swell, but just not feeling well enough to 

pull out all the stamps and play yet.   

Patriot pup is excited because He will be turning 2 

on July 4th.  He loves watching out the windows.

Out front our street is under construction.  Even though 

the old house is shaking and it's nerve wracking, At least I'm not

in the hospital.  So I will take the construction any day.  It's  nice not having all the

traffic zoom by.  We are use to the train yard.  The traffic is the most annoying thing

about living on this busy street.  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Gal 5:1 NKJV
 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, 

and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ