Card #107 for 2025

Dear Blog readers, thank you for all the kind messages 

regarding my surgery tomorrow.   I'm very nervous after what happened

in the first one.  But I just keep telling myself to trust GOD.  

SO to keep myself busy I made a couple cards for a few challenges. 

This one I will enter in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamps I used are:

Stampin Up:

CTMH: Winter wonderland

Stampin UP: Everything festive

Santa's Sleigh

I love all things plaid for Christmas especially.  

But as I mentioned in my earlier post, I would 

love a library wall papered with plaid.  Just something cozy

about that.   

I stamped the images and then die cut them out.  I used the 

snowflake and ribbon as the leaves in the challenge image. 

The Merry Christmas is a piece of washi tape that I hope sticks

to the white paper I put it on.  Sometimes washi tape curls.  I should

have added glue to the back of it.  I love that classic font of  it though. 

The inside is a bit weak in color, but black was too bold so I used a gray. 

Patriot pup was enjoying the snow fall.  I put a video 

of him on my instagram page.  He's a little nut trying to 

catch every falling snowflake.  

The verse I chose for this card has a quick "back" story:

as I was doing my devotions today, I was getting rather sad thinking

we need to be thankful no matter our infirmities, and still be trusting God no 

matter what.  Then I came across Neh. 9:31 and found a message

 I wrote back in2013 when I had my back surgery.. So I added 

tomorrow's date in my newer  Bible for my intestine surgery.. 

It was the hope I needed that GOD willing it will all be hooked up and work as it should. 

Nehemiah 9:31 KJV

Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, 

nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗

UPDATE:

On Nov. 19th, I will be going in for surgery.  I humbly ask that you would 

pray for a safe and successful surgery with no complications or injuries this time

and that when they reconnect my intestines it will all work as it should.  

Thank you kindly.💗  

Here is a link to a few of the other updates along the way.

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 #106 for 2025

Dear blog readers, I had a hard time making a choice for the challenge at:

The Paper Players

So many things come to mind for favorite Holiday image.

Let me just list a few of my favorites, before I talk about the card.

Holiday images that would be my favorite. 

~Christmas Tree

~Horse drawn Sleighs

~Christmas Bells ( Silver)

~Garland around a Fireplace

~Stockings hung by a fireplace

~Nativity Scene

~Christmas Ginger Bread men & houses

~Jolly ole St. Nick

~ornaments. 

~pretty much any thing nostalgic and lovely

Now for my card I chose snowglobes.   I started collecting

them when I was a child, in fact I still have one of the very first ones.

Sadly though I got rid of some of my collection because I was running out 

of room.  The few I still have are in a curio  cabinet .   SO this is why 

I chose this for my favorite image.  There's just something magical about a 

little world of snow in a glass globe.  Peaceful and dreamy. 

The stamp set I used are:

Stampin Up:  Still Scenes

I had to use a little piece of DSP, because I just needed to include some plaid.

If I could afford it, I'd have a library with plaid wallpaper.  It is so cozy.  

I added a small gold ribbon to the side of the plaid, and dry embossed the 

white card stock with snowflakes, then stamped, colored and die cut the images.

Always my best choices come after I snap the picture and glue things down.

But how fabulous would the plaid have looked under the gold on the globe base?

Ugh!!  well I guess that's for next time.  At least just to see if it will look nice. 

Patriot pup is flopped out on my feet while I make supper.

This way should a morsel fall to the floor he can immediately

retrieve it.  Little food vacuum.

The verse I chose for this card is:

Matt 21:22 KJV

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗

UPDATE:

On Nov. 19th, I will be going in for surgery.  I humbly ask that you would 

pray for a safe and successful surgery with no complications or injuries this time

and that when they reconnect my intestines it will all work as it should.  

Thank you kindly.💗  

Here is a link to a few of the other updates along the way.

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 #105 for 2025

Dear blog readers.  I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Sunday Stamps

The stamp sets I used are:

Close to my Heart: wonderland

Stampin UP:  Dove of Hope, Good Greetings

I just purchased the CTMH stamp set from an etsy shop. Because 

it had three of my favorite things.  This sleigh, a snowglobe, and a cute

old fashion sled.   I chose the sleigh for this scene, and let the DSP do

most of the work.  I tore up some white paper to give the appearance of snow

drifts for the perfect sleighride weather.

Below is a picture of Patriot Pup with his soulful eyes.  

He's been misbehaving quite often lately.  I think he knows 

I will be going away for a few days. 

The verse I chose for this card is:

Jeremiah 33:6 KJV

Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, 

and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗

UPDATE:

On Nov. 19th, I will be going in for surgery.  I humbly ask that you would 

pray for a safe and successful surgery with no complications or injuries this time

and that when they reconnect my intestines it will all work as it should.  

Thank you kindly.💗  

Here is a link to a few of the other updates along the way.

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 #104 for 2025

Dear blog readers, what a day.  I will tell you a funny story.

So I really wanted to vacuum today.  I'm not moving so great

since the surgery, but I just couldn't take the dog fur, so I got 

out the vacuum and proceeded with caution.  The fun began

when I decided I needed to use the hose and attachments..

and being the handy lady that I am, I had it running and grabbed

the hose which then it grabbed my ileostomy bag, and ladies and gents,

it was a fight for my life, as it was sucking the bag off my body, I never

thought to turn it off, just play tug of war with it and this bag, well I'm 

happy to say I had victory over the vacuum cleaner today.   But I 

am exhausted from trying to vacuum our home.  I can't imagine having 

a larger home  because 945 square feet is plenty big.

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge

The stamps I used in this card are:

Stampin Up:

Happy Holly-Days

Decorated with Happiness

Christmas Season

A lot of two step stamping on this card, I tried with multiple colors,

but finally found the perfect ones.  My eyes must be tired because everything

seems a bit off centered,  but nevertheless here it is.  

Patriot pup had a little peanutbutter this evening to try and get him to 

play with his toys.  He's still chasing shadows something fierce and not 

just with the sun now, but with lamps in the evening.  

  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Numbers 12:13KJV

And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗

UPDATE:

On Nov. 19th, I will be going in for surgery.  I humbly ask that you would 

pray for a safe and successful surgery with no complications or injuries this time

and that when they reconnect my intestines it will all work as it should.  

Thank you kindly.💗  

Here is a link to a few of the other updates along the way.

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 #103 for 2025

Dear blog readers I will enter this card in the challenge at:

52 Christmas Card Throwdown

The stamp set I used is:

Stampin Up:

#elfie

rectangle stitched dies

everyday arches dies

I didn't have any turquoise inks or markers, so I used 

the closest paper I could find to match the color.   I then used

my arch dies to make a snowglobe for little elfie. I stamped him

and colored him then set him on a snow bank, then I used liquid pearls

to accent the drifts and the fur on the trim of elfie's suit. I added a few

scattered snowflakes to give it that real snowglobe vibe.

My little coupon clipping pup loves to snag coupons off the desk.

Sigh❕ He's a little sock and slipper thief too. However he 

flashes those puppy eyes, and that's a free get out of jail pass like

in the game monopoly.  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Pro. 3:5 KJV

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

UPDATE:

The surgeon had a chance to look over my results from the procedure I had done Nov. 7th

at the hospital.  He said that even though there is scattered diverticulum still present he gave

me the green light for surgery.  PRAISE the LORD.  So please please pray for me, the surgeon and surgery team.  On November 19th I go back for the surgery to close my ileostomy and hook my intestines back up.  Please pray no complications or injuries this time in surgery  and that my recovery will be quicker and everything will work properly in the Name of Jesus.  Thank you all.

I had my surgeon appointment Oct 27th, and I went 

with a list of questions and I asked him none.  Because

he wants to get me hooked back up ASAP.  I was so happy and 

yet very scared.  I have to have a colon barium enema x-ray on 

Nov 7th.  I could really use prayer for the procedure as I have to 

be alert for the whole thing, and that the results come back all

good for us to move forward and get this reversed.  If it's all

good the doctor would like to do the surgery in November.  Praise

God for this good news.  I'm praying my test will show all good

things and my body will be ready for surgery with no 

complications or injuries this time.   He's not to concerned

about the damage to my bladder, ureter and kidney because

he's focused on the intestines and closing up the ileostomy and hooking

the plumbing back up together.  I will have more titanium staples in me now,

but God willing they will last and be ok until I'm a 102 years old.  

Thank you for all the prayers and love.  I truly appreciate it.  

Oct 14th 2025~Update: I had my 6 week appointment after having my stents out of the ureter tube
and sadly it's not going well, that ureter tube is not emptying, and the kidney is enlarged and I now have stones again too. Drawing my blood was a disaster and the tears fell like a flood, my body is so broken from all that has happened. It took 2 jabs to the arm, much digging and my hand went numb,
then they had to dig around for a vein in my hand to use finally the the second poke in the hand and searching they were able to prick a vein with the butterfly needle and a small drip. I'm exhausted. Please continue to pray for healing if it's God's will to make me whole again. I'm so heartbroken by this all, it just means the surgery for the ileostomy will now be postponed until we can figure out what to do with my swollen kidney and not working ureter tube, something that is entirely their fault because of the surgery, this shouldn't have been a thing to recovery from, but here we are, and God willing it will be restored by His mighty hand. Because of who He is and what He can do I trust He will bring me safely through. Counting it all Joy knowing I can trust Jesus. ✟

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 #102 for 2025

Dear blog readers I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Peace On Earth Christmas Challenge

The stamp sets I used are:

Stampin Up:

Dove of Hope

Seasons of Fun

I chose inspiration from the cute little pine tree in a burlap bag,

and the color red from the stockings.  I also folded my card to make

it resemble a door like in the picture with the wreath and skates. 

I used a piece of DSP for the "edge" of my door and then I stamped

and colored the image and added a sentiment.  I was going to add some

liquid pearl to the bottom for snow, but I forgot before taking the picture. 

Patriot puppy was pulling his bed quite aggressively today, so 

he was on a timeout, and begging to have me give it back to him.  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Luke 8:50 KJV

 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, 

Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗

UPDATE:

The surgeon had a chance to look over my results from the procedure I had done Nov. 7th

at the hospital.  He said that even though there is scattered diverticulum still present he gave

me the green light for surgery.  PRAISE the LORD.  So please please pray for me, the surgeon and surgery team.  On November 19th I go back for the surgery to close my ileostomy and hook my intestines back up.  Please pray no complications or injuries this time in surgery  and that my recovery will be quicker and everything will work properly in the Name of Jesus.  Thank you all.

I had my surgeon appointment Oct 27th, and I went 

with a list of questions and I asked him none.  Because

he wants to get me hooked back up ASAP.  I was so happy and 

yet very scared.  I have to have a colon barium enema x-ray on 

Nov 7th.  I could really use prayer for the procedure as I have to 

be alert for the whole thing, and that the results come back all

good for us to move forward and get this reversed.  If it's all

good the doctor would like to do the surgery in November.  Praise

God for this good news.  I'm praying my test will show all good

things and my body will be ready for surgery with no 

complications or injuries this time.   He's not to concerned

about the damage to my bladder, ureter and kidney because

he's focused on the intestines and closing up the ileostomy and hooking

the plumbing back up together.  I will have more titanium staples in me now,

but God willing they will last and be ok until I'm a 102 years old.  

Thank you for all the prayers and love.  I truly appreciate it.  

Oct 14th 2025~Update: I had my 6 week appointment after having my stents out of the ureter tube
and sadly it's not going well, that ureter tube is not emptying, and the kidney is enlarged and I now have stones again too. Drawing my blood was a disaster and the tears fell like a flood, my body is so broken from all that has happened. It took 2 jabs to the arm, much digging and my hand went numb,
then they had to dig around for a vein in my hand to use finally the the second poke in the hand and searching they were able to prick a vein with the butterfly needle and a small drip. I'm exhausted. Please continue to pray for healing if it's God's will to make me whole again. I'm so heartbroken by this all, it just means the surgery for the ileostomy will now be postponed until we can figure out what to do with my swollen kidney and not working ureter tube, something that is entirely their fault because of the surgery, this shouldn't have been a thing to recovery from, but here we are, and God willing it will be restored by His mighty hand. Because of who He is and what He can do I trust He will bring me safely through. Counting it all Joy knowing I can trust Jesus. ✟

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 #101 for 2025

Dear blog readers, I will enter this card in the challenge at:

The Paper Players

The stamp set I used is: 

Stampin Up:  Gingerbread man and dies

It's a bit hard to tell from the picture but the base

card stock is a dark green.  I tried to match up a colored piece

that would resemble mossy meadow, but in the picture it don't even look green.

I stamped and heat embossed the gingerbread man then cut out his 

scarf and hat in cajun craze.  I used old olive for the candies, and early espresso for 

the cute little ginger bread man.  I added some wink of stella clear to the candy 

stick, and I also dry embossed snowflakes behind the gingerbread man and used 

a scallop die on the edge.  

Patriot pup has an earache, so he really loves the 

radiator heater today.  Especially since temps dipped

in the 20's .. I'm not ready for the chill of winter.  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Exodus 23:25 KJV
 And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread,

 and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗

UPDATE:

The surgeon had a chance to look over my results from the procedure I had done Nov. 7th

at the hospital.  He said that even though there is scattered diverticulum still present he gave

me the green light for surgery.  PRAISE the LORD.  So please please pray for me, the surgeon and surgery team.  On November 19th I go back for the surgery to close my ileostomy and hook my intestines back up.  Please pray no complications or injuries this time in surgery  and that my recovery will be quicker and everything will work properly in the Name of Jesus.  Thank you all.

I had my surgeon appointment Oct 27th, and I went 

with a list of questions and I asked him none.  Because

he wants to get me hooked back up ASAP.  I was so happy and 

yet very scared.  I have to have a colon barium enema x-ray on 

Nov 7th.  I could really use prayer for the procedure as I have to 

be alert for the whole thing, and that the results come back all

good for us to move forward and get this reversed.  If it's all

good the doctor would like to do the surgery in November.  Praise

God for this good news.  I'm praying my test will show all good

things and my body will be ready for surgery with no 

complications or injuries this time.   He's not to concerned

about the damage to my bladder, ureter and kidney because

he's focused on the intestines and closing up the ileostomy and hooking

the plumbing back up together.  I will have more titanium staples in me now,

but God willing they will last and be ok until I'm a 102 years old.  

Thank you for all the prayers and love.  I truly appreciate it.  

Oct 14th 2025~Update: I had my 6 week appointment after having my stents out of the ureter tube
and sadly it's not going well, that ureter tube is not emptying, and the kidney is enlarged and I now have stones again too. Drawing my blood was a disaster and the tears fell like a flood, my body is so broken from all that has happened. It took 2 jabs to the arm, much digging and my hand went numb,
then they had to dig around for a vein in my hand to use finally the the second poke in the hand and searching they were able to prick a vein with the butterfly needle and a small drip. I'm exhausted. Please continue to pray for healing if it's God's will to make me whole again. I'm so heartbroken by this all, it just means the surgery for the ileostomy will now be postponed until we can figure out what to do with my swollen kidney and not working ureter tube, something that is entirely their fault because of the surgery, this shouldn't have been a thing to recovery from, but here we are, and God willing it will be restored by His mighty hand. Because of who He is and what He can do I trust He will bring me safely through. Counting it all Joy knowing I can trust Jesus. ✟

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 #100 for 2025

Dearest blog readers, Today was the day of 

my procedure at the hospital.  Now praying the results

will give me the green light to have the surgery that

will put me back together.   God willing.  

I will enter this card in the challenge at:

Sunday Stamps

The stamps I used are Stampin UP:

Peaceful Boughs

Garden Birdhouses

Christmas in the Making

I chose to use the red, green, and the deep brown.  I also

used black as my neutral color.  

I was inspired by a card I found on instagram @stampinthroughthecatalog.

I fell in love with making the birdhouses into a winter scene.  

I changed mine up a bit to match the colors in the challenge.  I embossed

the white with snowflakes, then die cut the branches and pinecones twice,

to overlay them with snowy white card stock.  I stamped, colored and cut 

the rest of the images and placed them down.  I added liquid pearl paint to the images

to make it glisten like freshly fallen snow.  

Below is a picture of the gorgeous sunrise at the hospital.  We had to leave

at 6:45 this morning to get there for my appointment.  

He is Patriot pup posing for his picture.  Forgive the clothes 

basket in the background.  We keep them on the couch so 

puppy learns to stay off until we can get a couch cover.  

The verse I chose for this card is:

Mark 9:24 KJV
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears,

 Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

📖

 Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

💗

UPDATE:

I had my surgeon appointment Oct 27th, and I went 

with a list of questions and I asked him none.  Because

he wants to get me hooked back up ASAP.  I was so happy and 

yet very scared.  I have to have a colon barium enema x-ray on 

Nov 7th.  I could really use prayer for the procedure as I have to 

be alert for the whole thing, and that the results come back all

good for us to move forward and get this reversed.  If it's all

good the doctor would like to do the surgery in November.  Praise

God for this good news.  I'm praying my test will show all good

things and my body will be ready for surgery with no 

complications or injuries this time.   He's not to concerned

about the damage to my bladder, ureter and kidney because

he's focused on the intestines and closing up the ileostomy and hooking

the plumbing back up together.  I will have more titanium staples in me now,

but God willing they will last and be ok until I'm a 102 years old.  

Thank you for all the prayers and love.  I truly appreciate it.  

Oct 14th 2025~Update: I had my 6 week appointment after having my stents out of the ureter tube
and sadly it's not going well, that ureter tube is not emptying, and the kidney is enlarged and I now have stones again too. Drawing my blood was a disaster and the tears fell like a flood, my body is so broken from all that has happened. It took 2 jabs to the arm, much digging and my hand went numb,
then they had to dig around for a vein in my hand to use finally the the second poke in the hand and searching they were able to prick a vein with the butterfly needle and a small drip. I'm exhausted. Please continue to pray for healing if it's God's will to make me whole again. I'm so heartbroken by this all, it just means the surgery for the ileostomy will now be postponed until we can figure out what to do with my swollen kidney and not working ureter tube, something that is entirely their fault because of the surgery, this shouldn't have been a thing to recovery from, but here we are, and God willing it will be restored by His mighty hand. Because of who He is and what He can do I trust He will bring me safely through. Counting it all Joy knowing I can trust Jesus. ✟

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 💗