Card #71 for 2025

Dear blog readers, this will be the last Halloween

card I make for this year, so I can start working on 

Thanksgiving cards, and then finally my Christmas cards.

My most favorite of all cards to make.  

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Color Dare

I used both the colors in the dare challenge, and 

for the color of choice I chose brown for the stems 

on my little pumpkins.  

The stamp sets and dies I used in this card are:

Stampin Up:

Spooky Halloween dies

Everyday Arches dies

Scary silhouettes dies 

Holiday home

Spooky Halloween

Pick of the patch

Halloween memories 

Quite a few stamps for a rather simple card, 

but I wanted to add some stamped images 

to make it interesting.  Who'd have guessed that 

the cute little ghost came from the Holiday home 

Christmas set, well it's mostly Christmas, with a few 

fall images to stamp as well.  I really like how the sponged

background turned out.  It reminds me of candy corn so hence

the ribbon on the inside of the card.  

Below is a picture of Patriot pup, that look and that sitting pose

just cracks me up, he was not having Bible study today, so he 

went in his kennel to ignore me.  Such a funny dog.

The verse I chose for this card is:

Psalm 30:2 KJV

O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ 

Here is a link to what happened this summer:  Surgery and Healing it's at the bottom of the post.  I appreciate all the love and prayers.  Thank you kindly 💗

 

Card #70 for 2025

Dear blog readers, Thank you kindly for all the well

wishes and prayers.  I have a long road a head of me,

many upcoming procedures, and then surgery to re-connect 

me together, God willing.  Life sure can take unexpected 

turns, but so grateful to be alive and with my family.  

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamps sets I used are:

Stampin Up:

Spooky Halloween

Paradise Palms

Oceanfront 

Color & contour 

You'd all think I'm a little nutty in the head, but while

I'm making spooky Halloween cards, my mind is drifting 

to is this something the Lord wants me to make?  I always 

think if it's not evil or bad it should be ok.  I hope I'm making 

the right call on this.  I always celebrated Halloween in a nice

way with my kiddos when they were little.   When I was growing up we use 

to have huge Halloween parties, with costumes and bobbing for apples

and all sorts of games.  As long as the demonic is not celebrated I think it's safe.  

anyways while making these past few Halloween  cards

 I'm blasting Christmas music on my lap top.  wink. 

This sketch was fun because I was determined to make at least two more 

Halloween cards for the season before I start Thanksgiving cards.  

I do wish the moon was a bit more prevalent, I stamped it twice, and it just 

wouldn't take to the already inked night sky.  The DSP really pulls the water 

color out.  I used two different inks to get the water that color.  Balmy blue, 

and pool party.   

Below is a picture of Patriot pup, he is getting to be quite a little pal,

still hyper and naughty but a little less, I can't walk him, I can barely 

walk myself presently with all that's going on ..Haha  But Lord willing 

we both will get there.  He loves his watermelon, and we love that 

the squeaker is finally out of it.

The verse I chose for this card is:

Psalm 19:8 KJV

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: 

the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ 

 

Card #69 for 2025

Dear blog readers, 

Happy Sunday evening to you all.  

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Sunday Stamps

The stamps sets I used for this card are:

Stampin Up:

Cutest Halloween

Spooky Halloween

Pick of the Patch

Spooktacular Bash

Halloween Memories 

Below is a picture of Patriot Pup. 

 He is begging for a treat.  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Psalm 103:2-4 KJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ 

Here is a link to what happened this summer:  Surgery and Healing it's at the bottom of the post.  I appreciate all the love and prayers.  Thank you kindly 💗

 

Card #68 for 2025

Dear Blog readers, we had an eventful day 

here.  I cleaned my Bible study desk, and my 

darling little dog decided he should jump up and 

grab a pen to chew on.  So had to fetch that from him.

A little more difficult since surgery, I do think I'm learning

to fetch better then him.  wink. No sooner did I sit down to rest

and the little rascal had nabbed a gravel stone off the carpet out

back, ( we have a gravel driveway) so I had to pry open his mouth 

and retrieve that.  He's just looking for some attention and going 

about it a not so sweet way. 

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Freshly Made Sketches

The stamps I used are:

Stampin UP:

Best Witches 

Spooky Halloween 

I added a little wink of stella to the hat and bottom of the 

witch, also a little to the fire.  

I wish I had a few more colors to work with, because I just can't get 

a nice green with what I have.  SO that's going on my wish list. 

I added a few little embellishments for the boiling bubbles.  

Here is a picture of Patriot pup, looking a wee bit guilty.

The verse I chose for this card is:

Zechariah 4:6KJV

So he answered and said to me

:“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’

Says the Lord of hosts.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ 

Here is a link to what happened this summer:  Surgery and Healing it's at the bottom of the post.  I appreciate all the love and prayers.  Thank you kindly 💗

 

Card #67 for 2025

Dear blog readers, I hope this post fines you doing 

well, and crafting.

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

CAS on FRIDAY  

The stamp sets I used are:

Stampin Up:

Spooky Halloween

Best Witches

Halloween Memories 

The lovely candy corn is a ribbon that I thought would 

be fabulous on this card, simple and bold. 

The verse  I chose for this post is:

1 Peter 2:24 KJV

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, 

that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: 

by whose stripes ye were healed.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ 

Here is a link to what happened this summer:  Surgery and Healing it's at the bottom of the post. 

 

Card #66 for 2025

Dear blog readers, 

I'm starting to stamp a wee bit more

while in recovery yet from a very scary 

emergency surgery this past summer. 

I'm 9 weeks out and quite a lot of pain

and problems yet.  But God's timing not mine.

Of course I wish the healing would come faster,

but I'm grateful for the baby steps in the right direction. 

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

The Paper Players

I am not good with water coloring and blending 

techniques, I wish I could take a class on how to 

be so creative.  My mind just can't grasp it, yet I like

to think it's because I have limited inks and pencils to 

work with so my color range is quite small.  That 

sounds like a legit excuse for not knowing how to 

water color.  wink. 

The stamp set I used is Spooky Halloween from stampin up.

I used my aqua brush to add color to the background before

layering my images on top, and I also used water color pencils 

to color in the cat.   I must say I would like to explore water coloring 

more because it looks so nice.  

Here's a picture of Patriot pup, he is now one year

old, and unfortunately His 4th of July birthday was ruined,

as this is when I was taken ill, and spent the month in 

the hospital, and underwent a 51/2 hour surgery.  He is a hyper

little fella, and doesn't understand what is happening, but he

is being as patient with me as he possible can be for a springer. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

Jeremiah 17:14 KJV

 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, 

and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ 

Here is a link to what happened this summer:  Surgery and Healing it's at the bottom of the post. 

 

Card #65 for 2025

Dear Blog readers,

I'm sorry for my long absence, I've been quite sick.

I will share a little of the details at the bottom of this post.

I will enter t this card in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 

The stamp set I used was 

stampin up: Spooky Halloween

I used DSP for the inside of each rectangle, and 

then stamped the images and cut them out.  I had 

to use the little wooden pumpkin in the corner, I 

came across a whole jar full of them, and I really need

to start de-cluttering my home.  

Below is the card I made for my son's 32 birthday. 

The verse I chose for today is:

Psalm 5:3 KJV

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord;

 in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ 

So on July 4th I started getting sick, on the 5 went to the walk in clinic, I ended up with an abscess on my large instestine, that was 3 cm, they sent me home and I got worse, 2 more trips to the ER and 3 more cat scans to prove it had grown to 6 cm,and I would need it drained.  I was told to go to a bigger hospital, which we did, and when we got there, they said because of the location they couldn't drain it and I'd have to go to surgery, the 3 and 1/2 hour surgery turned into 5 1/2 hours because the surgeon melted through my ureter tubes and had to call in another doctor to re-attach my tubes back to my kidneys and bladder, not where God placed them.  I came home with an ileostomy bag, which means my small intestine in visible in a bag on the outside of my body and my large intestine is temporarily healing, i had to come home with a catheter for 4 weeks and stent in my ureter tube for 6 weeks and 2 days, I then had a resistant infection, that I'm marked clear of presently, but it's lurking and I will have to have more tests,  I have to go back for a renal ultra sound and more blood work, they ruined my arms.  4 infiltrations and I now have scar tissue all in my veins  and so much pain,  not to mention I must empty this ileostomy bag every 2 hours, and thank GOD my husband can change the whole thing, because my skin breaks down, and it needs to be changed every 3 days.  I have a skin rash and that is so itchy and they say and ulcer now.  This has been the most stressful experience of my life, and then they just turn you lose and I've had to fight for every appointment and it's exhausting.  They want to pump you full of drugs, and want you to be a zombie.  I'm grateful for how far I've come,but sad progress isn't faster.  The pain is intense, bladder spasms, burning , pressure,

the bag always hanging on me is hot and bothersome.  I'm weak and worn out.  I could really use a 

huge miracle of healing.. oh and when they were in surgery she said I had a orange size cyst on my ovary that she removed too.  Apparently my insides were so inflamed and infected it was awful.  Please pray for healing and that my next appointments and surgery will be smooth and safe. and I will be restored to good health and be whole and put back together again.  

Thank you so very much.

Card #64 for 2025

Dearest blog readers, I made this one layer card 

for the challenge at:

The Paper Players

The stamp sets I used for this card are:

Stampin Up:  Sunrise Sailing

Impressions abloom

I stamped the water and did a little sponging

to blend in the colors.  I made a sunset and used 

a little pink around the edges to fit the old saying: 

A pink sky at night is a sailors delight. Then I colored

in the little sailboat, and added a few birds and a sentiment. 

The little pup was sitting under my Bible study chair

playing with his lamb chops toy this morning.. 

Here is a page from my scripture  writing journal. 

I'm trying to post them on instagram, because I'm 

not to consistent at making a card each day. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

James 3:4 NKJV

Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, 

they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ

 

Card #63 for 2025

Dear blog readers,

I love the fourth of July.  It's right under

Christmas for me.  There's just something special

about it.  I will always be grateful for my freedom, 

and being born in the USA. 

However, I don't have many fourth of July stamps.

so I made do with what I had.

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamp sets used in this card are:

Stampin UP:

Light the Sky

Sweet ice cream

Taylored Expressions :  Of thee I sing

,

I was most excited to use My brand new: Everyday arches Dies

they just got delivered a couple days ago and I was so happy when

I saw this sketch.  Yay!!

Puppy is tired of my stamping and wants to play. 

I got to thinking about my blog, and how I post too

many pictures of one card, and how it reminds me of 

those recipe blogs, where you have to scroll down for 

five minutes just to see the recipe, gosh how frustrating,

so I think from now on, I'm going to post only the front and 

inside of the card.  I was also thinking how stale my blog has 

become, as much as I love to read, I'm NO writer. and my little

blog has not grown in years, not that I expect it too, but as I was 

drawing in my scripture journal I got thinking about the little 

Baptist church I grew up in.  I found out it started in a railroad car,

On May 2nd, 1903.  May 2nd is our anniversary so that's sweet,

and our family has a grand love for trains, another interesting fact.  

Any ways much like my blog, the little church has not grown in 

size, which makes me sad,  I suppose to grow things, it takes great

commitment and effort, neither of which I possess right now. 

so although I might downsize a few card pictures, the rest will remain

the same until I have motivation to do better.  

Here is the little page in my scripture journal. I'm having a blast drawing 

the verses. Or at least trying to.  This is the little Baptist church I grew up in.  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Gal 5:1 NKJV

Stand[a] 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

 

Card #62 for 2025

Dear blog readers, I just wanted to make one more

card for the interesting  challenge 

at: Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamp set for this card is:

Stampin UP: Beautiful You

I'm not very good at all with a ruler, so I just eyeballed 

this sketch and then used a pencil to draw on the DSP

a few of the shapes, then I cut them out and glued them

down,  it looked a little plain since I didn't mat them, so

I used my marker to outline the edges.  I stamped 

the young lady on DSP as well, so I wouldn't have to color 

in her dress,  I love the contrast of the yellow against 

the background paper.  

I added a few little heart embellishments because

that corner appeared a little blank to me.  

Here is a lovely lily from my garden. 

I'm into drawing and writing out scripture verses

for a lovely fb group.  I'm no artist but it's been a fun experience.

I think I might just start sharing more of my journal here

and on Instagram. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

Psalm 118:24 NKJV

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

🕮

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗PJ