Golden Paper Dreams

Secret Sister Card

2011-04-19T23:14:00.000-04:00

My Secret Sister has struck again! Look at this gorgeous card she had someone deliver to me at the Shoebox Swap I attended this past Saturday! Isn't it beautiful? I have been so spoiled by my Secret Sister and I can't wait to find out who she is at our reveal luncheon on May 7th at a local restaurant!

Shoebox Swap!

2011-04-19T23:10:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday my friend Amanda hosted another of her fabulous Shoebox Swaps! They are always a special time to get together with my friends and fellow stampers to stamp the day away, laugh, and of course EAT! Besides all the wonderful cards there is always an array of yummy food, from breakfast to lunch to dessert! And Amanda is the most wonderful hostess, she really puts a lot of work into making the day fun for us with some fantastic door prizes and other surprises! I won a wonderful door prize of the SU stamp set Itty Bitty Bits and the coordinating punches. I can't wait to use them! Here is my card that I took to the swap. It is very similar to the card I made for my Aunt's birthday but using a different color combo.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: SU Happiness Shared, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: SU Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: SU Scallop Trim Border Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch
Accessories: Pearls, Dimensionals

I can't get "ogre" you!

2011-04-19T22:41:00.004-04:00

Here we are on week 11 for the Hambo Hoedown Challenges! Our free digi this week is this cute 'ogre'! He came with a couple of sentiments and I chose "I can't get 'ogre' you"! As part of our challenge we were also to use distressing on our card, which I don't do a whole lot of, but I do like the look of it! I used my distressing tool and distressed around the edges of the Early Espresso Panel as well as the around the inside of the oval. I also distressed around the edges of the sentiment. Then I took my scissors and made a lot of gouges in the front panel to distress it as well. Coming up with a card using this image was a bit of a challenge for me but it made me put my thinking cap on and I guess that's what challenges are for, aren't they? I hope you like it!

Card Ingredients
Images: "Ogre-digi" from Hambo Stamps
Stamps: SU Three Trees (retired)
Cardstock: SU Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: SU Early Espresso
Tools: Distressing Tool, Scissors, Nesties, Copics, Dimensionals

It's Time for Another Hambo Hoedown Challenge!

2011-04-11T20:52:00.000-04:00

Wow, these weeks fly by so fast, I can't believe it's time for another Hambo Hoedown Challenge card! This week's free digi image was this oh so cute Penguin Bunny! As part of our challenge this week we were to make an Easel Card. I hadn't made one in a long time and forgot just how easy they are! What a fun challenge! If you'd like to get in on the challenges go to the Hambo Hoedown website here and join in the fun! Here is the card I made:

Card Ingredients
Image: Hambo Penguin Bunny Digi
Sentiment is from SU Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: SU Old Olive, Regal Rose; Basic Grey Olivia DSP
Tools: SU Large Oval Punch, SU Scallop Oval Punch, SU Scallop Border Punch, Copics
Accessories: Glitter Brads, Stickles, Dimensionals

Happy Birthday Aunt Miny!

2011-04-11T20:35:00.000-04:00

I only have one aunt and she is very near and dear to my heart. She was like a second mother to me growing up, I spent a lot of time with her even though she has 3 daughters of her own. Her name is Marion but when I was little I couldn't pronounce her name and it came out Miny, so Aunt Miny it was! Even to this day I still call her that. She's going through a bit of a lonely time right now after having lost her husband of 62 years in January. She just had a birthday yesterday and this is the card I made for her. I'm planning to spend some time with her soon and take her out for a birthday lunch.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: SU Happiness Shared, SU Watercolor Trio
Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Blushing Bride DP, Basic Black, GP 110 White
Tools: MS Punch, SU Large Oval Punch, SU Scallop Oval Punch, Copics, Dimensionals
Accessories: Pearls

Hambo Hoedown No. 9!

2011-04-04T22:46:00.001-04:00

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge is up to number 9 already! For those of you who are not familiar with the Hoedown, here's how it works: Go to the Hambo Hoedown site and see what the challenge is for that week. Use any Hambo image and make a card following the challenge guidelines and post it to your blog. You then link it back to the Hoedown site and also email a picture of your card to them (details are on the site) Once you have completed those items Hambo will email you the free digi image for the following week's challenge. Isn't that cool? I've really been enjoying these challenges and getting the free digi images!

This week's free digi is this adorable caterpillar! Isn't it just the cutest thing you ever saw? In addition to using this image on our card we were to use the colors hot pink and bright green. I love those two colors together so this was really a fun challenge for me! Here is my card for Challenge No. 9!

Card Ingredients
Image: Caterpillar Digi from Hambo Stamps
Sentiment: SU Bugs & Kisses
Cardstock: SU Green Galore, Melon Mambo DSP, Melon Mambo
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Green Galore
Tools: Copics, Nesties, SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Dimensionals, Sponge
Accessories: RicRac Ribbon, Pearls

A Blog Award from my friend Mary!

2011-04-02T18:08:00.000-04:00

My dear friend and fellow stamper Mary has honored me with the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you so much Mary, I am honored that you chose me as someone to receive this award! I had taken a little time off from blogging for a while but I am back now and really enjoying it again! Mary's blog has been such an inspiration to me, she is such a talented and creative person and you can see all of her wonderful creations here at her blog My Stampin' Hideaway.

As part of receiving this award I am to tell you seven things about myself and then pass this award on to other fellow bloggers. Here are seven things about me that you might not know:

1. I met my current husband at 7/11 when I worked there part-time as a second job to support myself and two children after a divorce. He was a customer for about a year before we actually started dating. We will be celebrating our 12th anniversary in May!
2. I got my motorcycle license at the ripe old age of 49! I just sold my Harley a few months ago as I hadn't been riding much after my dh sold his bike to buy a race car. Maybe someday we will ride again, who knows?
3. I taught country line dancing for several years and our group performed at the Maryland State Fair.
4. I make a mean pot of beef vegetable soup!
5. I am a descendant of Johann Sebastian Bach on my mother's side.
6. I recently changed jobs after being in the same job for over 23 years. I was a secretary and have now moved into the Human Resources field.
7. I went on my first cruise last summer and can't wait to go on another one!

I am now supposed to pass this award on to fellow bloggers who have inspired me and I have chosen the following people:

Amanda - Stamp Me
Ann - The Stampin' Schach
Holly - Rubber Redneck
Linda - Linda's Stamping Blog
Vera - Vera Stamps
Please visit their blogs for some wonderful inspiration!

Rubber Redneck Stampede Spring Time Edition Challenge Card No. 3

2011-04-02T11:13:00.000-04:00

Here is my card for the Day 3 Color Challenge at the Rubber Redneck Stampede Spring Time Edition. We were to use the color combo of Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight and Peach Parfait. Definitely colors that say spring! I did a lot of paper piercing on this card! Both Nestie panels are popped up on dimensionals although it's hard to see in the photo. I'm hoping to get more color challenges finished and posted this weekend!

Card Ingredients
Stamps: SU Live Your Dreams (retired)
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Peach Parfait DSP,
Pear Pizzazz, Pear Pizzazz DSP, GP110 White
Tools: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Scallop Edge Punch, Peach Parfait,
Pear Pizzazz, and Daffodil Delight Markers, Nesties - Labels 4
Accessories: Brads

A Beautiful Card from my Secret Sister!

2011-03-31T21:14:00.000-04:00

I received another beautiful card from my Secret Sis! For those of you who don't know, our little Maryland stampers group, the Meade Girls, is doing a Secret Sister swap for the months of Feb., March and April. We will reveal who we are at a get together the first week of May. I have been receiving some beautiful cards from my Sis, you can see her other gorgeous creations if you scroll through my blog. She is so talented and creative, I can't wait to find out who she is! Here is the latest card I received from her! It really says Spring to me!

Rubber Redneck Stampede Spring Time Edition Challenge Card

2011-03-30T22:36:00.000-04:00

One of the Stampin' Up! demonstrators that I met on the Late Night Stampers online group put together an online class with projects and cards for spring. She also has a color challenge for us everyday that we can participate in and win prizes for. This is my card for the Day One Challenge. We were to use Early Espresso, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake on our card. I really like these colors together! The class started on March 21st and ends on April 3rd so we have 14 challenges to participate in. I'll be posting the rest of my challenge cards soon!

Card Ingredients

Stamps: On A Pedestal

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, WW

Ink: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze & Crumb Cake Markers; Real Red

Tools: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Punch

Accessories: Early Espresso Ribbon, Dimensionals

This Week's Hambo Hoedown!

2011-03-27T20:09:00.000-04:00

This week's image from the Hambo Hoedown Challenge is this adorable Coffee Girl Digi! This is right up my alley as I'm definitely a coffee girl! Got to have that first cup in the morning before I do anything else! Our challenge was to use this image on a card and to also follow a specific sketch. Here's the card I made for the challenge, this was such a fun image!

Card Ingredients
Image: Hambo Coffee Girl Digi
Sentiment: Gina K - My Cuppa Joe
Cardstock: SU Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun; GP 110 White; Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety DP
Ink: More Mustard (sponged around main image panel); Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: SU Tangerine Tango Ribbon; Nesties Labels 2; Brads

Hambo Hoedown Party Elephant!

2011-03-21T21:26:00.000-04:00

I so enjoyed participating in the Hambo Hoedown Challenge last week and was excited to receive my free digi image and be able to participate again this week! This week's digi image is this adorable Party Elephant and we were to use sparkles and shiny stuff on our card. A friend had given me this shiny purple cardstock and I thought it would be perfect for my card. I found this cute Birthday DP in my stash and decided to color the elephant purple to go along with the purple in the DP as well. I added Turquoise and Yellow Stickles to his hat and purple glittery brads for some sparkle. I hope you like it!

Card Ingredients
Image: Hambo Party Elephant Digi; Sentiment from SU Eat Cake
Cardstock: Unknown Purple Base, SU Elegant Eggplant, Orchid Opulence; GP110 White; Unknown DP
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Tools: Nesties, SU Large Oval Punch and Scallop Oval Punch
Access: Stickles, Glitter Brads, Ribbon

Hambo Hoedown Challenge Card

2011-03-14T23:29:00.001-04:00

A few of my stamping friends have been participating in the Hambo Hoedown Challenges sponsored by Hambo Stamps. They've been having so much fun with them that I decided to join in and see what it was all about. For your first time participating in the challenge you must purchase the digital image for the weekly challenge and make a card with it and post it on your blog and then link it to their site. The next week Hambo will email you for free the digital image for that week's challenge. Each week that you participate you receive a free digital image for the next week's challenge. How cool is that? Who wouldn't love free digi's? This week's digital image is this adorable St. Patty's Day Hamster! I'm not that much into St. Patty's Day but I just love this little guy so I couldn't wait to make a card with him! We were also to use gold on our card as part of the challenge so I colored the coins with a gold Copic marker and then went over them with a gold Signo Gel Pen. The ribbon came from my MD Stampers Secret Sister as part of my cute St. Patrick's Day surprise. It was perfect for this card! I can't wait to see what challenge they have planned for us for next week!

Card Ingredients
Image: Hambo Digital Image
Cardstock: SU Garden Green, Marina Mist, Unknown DSP, GP110 White
Accessories: Ribbon, Copic Markers, Sponge

Shoebox Swap Card

2011-03-11T08:36:00.000-05:00

I am attending another Shoebox Swap tomorrow hosted by Kathy in Laurel. I love shoebox swaps, they are so much fun and you come home with so many different cards! The day will be filled with stamping, laughing, friends and food! I am so looking forward to it! Here is the card I am taking to the swap.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Herb Expressions, Sentiment from Watercolor Trio
Cardstock: SU Rose Red, Old Olive, Thoroughly Modern DSP; GP110 White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Regal Rose & Old Olive Markers, SU Regal Rose
Accessories: White Satin Ribbon from Offray Ribbon Outlet, Rhinestones
Tools: SU Eyelet Border Punch, Modern Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop
Oval Punch, Sponge, Dimensionals

Another Gorgeous Secret Sister Card!

2011-03-11T08:22:00.000-05:00

My MD Stampers Secret Sister has sent me another gorgeous card! I just love all the lace! Isn't this beautiful? When I find out who she is I'm going to get her to show me how to make those lace flowers!
Thank you SS, whoever you are!

More Teacup Pansies!

2011-02-27T10:55:00.001-05:00

I am so in love with this digi stamp I just had to make another card with it! I attended a fun Stamp-A-Stack yesterday at the home of one of our Maryland Stamper girls and was still in a stamping mood when I got home so I sat down and made another card with this cute teacup pansy image.

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Digi Image from Fred, She Said; Sentiment from SU Watercolor Trio
Cardstock: SU Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Melon Mambo DSP; GP 110 White
Tools: SU Scallop Trim Border Punch, Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Copics
Accessories: Daffodil Delight 1/8" Tafetta Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Teacup Pansies

2011-02-24T21:32:00.006-05:00

Hello Again! Those of you who know me are probably keeled over from shock right now! 2 posts in 2 days! Woo! Hoo!

Last night I printed out several digital images that I had saved on my computer and this one really caught my eye. I love flowers of course and pansies are so pretty, and I also collect teacups and saucers. I have a fairly decent collection that I started about ten years ago. So when I saw this image I just had to use it. I purchased it from Fred,She Said Digital Images. Check out their site, they have some really awesome digi's!

Card Ingredients
Stamps: Fred, She Said Digi Image; Sentiment from SU Watercolor Trio
Cardstock: SU More Mustard, More Mustard DSP, Elegant Eggplant,
Garden Green; GP 110 White
Accessories: Dew Drops, Stickles, Ribbon from Offray Ribbon Outlet
Tools: SU Modern Label Punch, Lg. Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch,
Scallop Trim Border Punch, Copics

Maryland Stampers Challenge Card

2011-02-23T20:27:00.001-05:00

Hello Again! Wow, can you believe I'm posting again after only 10 days! LOL I'm definitely going to try to keep my blog going this year after failing miserably last year.

My friend Amanda from our little Maryland Stampers group shared a free digital image with us and challenged us all to make a card with it. It is a cute flower basket image that she downloaded from Karen's Doodles. Since flowers are my most favorite images and I love to color I was happy to play along! Check out Karen's website, she has lots of adorable digital images! Here is my card:

Card Ingredients

Stamps: Digital Image from Karen's Doodles

Paper: SU Choc. Chip, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz DSP; GP110 White

Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch (SU), Dew Drops, Daffodil Delight

1/8' Tafetta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Copics

Birthday Cards!

2011-02-13T10:35:00.000-05:00

This post is a little belated since my birthday was about two weeks ago but I wanted to showcase the beautiful cards I received from my wonderful stamping friends. They are all so talented and I was so honored to receive these!

This first card was made by my 18 yr. old grandson Alan. What a wonderful surprise that he made me a card for my birthday! I think he did a fabulous job!

Amanda's Card

Gloria's Card

Mary's Card

Kathy Winland's (ScrapKathy) Card

Rose's Card

Angie's Card

Jen's Card

DM's Card

Linda's Card (my SU Upline)

Cindy's Card

Jane's Card

Another Card from Amanda!

Card from SCS Brak Group

As you can see these are all fabulous cards and I am very blessed to have such wonderfully talented friends! Thank you all for thinking of me on my birthday!

It's Been A While!

2011-02-13T00:45:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's been quite a while since I posted! I've been away from blogging for a while but on the encouragement of my stamping friends I am ready to start back up again!

I am still very much involved with the Meade Girls and a few new ladies have joined our group! Unfortunately we have also had to say goodbye to a few members who have moved away. We continue to get together for swaps, trips to Amish country, shopping, lunch, and of course to stamp!

We have recently initiated our second "Secret Sister" swap, where those that want to participate are assigned a name and we anonomously send cards and little gifts throughout a specific time period to our "secret sister". Our current swap is running from Feb. 1st to May 1st. The swap will end the first week in May where we will get together for lunch and reveal who we are with a handmade gift for our secret sister. My Secret Sister has already been busy sending me cards and goodies! I received this adorable card about a week ago:

Isn't she just the cutest? Then today several of us got together for lunch and when I came back to the table after filling my plate at the buffet, I found a mysterious package on my chair! My Secret Sister had apparently snuck in to the restaurant and left me some goodies! What a wonderful surprise! There was an assortment of pretty valentine colored ribbon in red, burgundy, pinks and whites, along with a bag of my favorite candy, M&M's in valentine colors no less! And to top it all off she had made me the cutest Valentine card you would ever want to see! It is absolutely adorable and I just love it! Here is a pic of my goodies along with the card:

Thank you so much Secret Sister, whoever you are! I am feeling very spoiled already!!

I'll be back tomorrow with another post of all the beautiful birthday cards I received!

Angler

2010-03-14T13:20:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago I attended a wonderful Shoebox Swap in Laurel, MD hosted by ScrapKathy. It was a fantastic stamping event, all the cards were fabulous and the food was scrumptious! A great time was had by all! This is one of the cards for us to make at the swap. I wasn't able to complete the coloring of the image at the swap (I'm slow!) so I brought it home to color with my Copics. My son and his buddy are avid fishermen so this card will go to one of them for their birthday this year! I was pretty pleased with how it turned out, I hope you like it too!

Meade Girls Challenge Card

2010-03-14T13:07:00.000-04:00

The latest card challenge for my group of stampers, The Meade Girls, is a sketch challenge given to us by Dawnmarie. Don't you just love this sketch?

Here is the card I submitted for the challenge. It really was a fun sketch to work with!

Card Ingredients

Stamp: Great Impressions

Paper: SU Green Galore, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Cool Carribean (retired), GP 110, DP- Basic Grey Lemonade

Accessories: Flower, Ribbon & Brad from my stash, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Dew Drops, Dimensionals, Copics

Easel Card

2010-03-14T12:37:00.002-04:00

I've been seeing so many easel cards on everyone's blogs and I really liked the look of them so I decided to try my hand at making one. I followed Beate's tutorial on Splitcoast and it was super easy! With all the snow and cold weather we've had lately I wanted something that would say Spring! And since Easter is just around the corner I decided to make an Easter card.

Card Ingredients

Stamp: SU A Flower For All Seasons
Paper: SU Cool Carribean (retired), Melon Mambo, Kiwi Kiss, GP 110 White, DP -Basic Grey Lemonade
Accessories: Ribbon from my stash, Metallic Dew Drops, SU Scallop Border Punch, Dimensionals, Copics, Sakura Stardust Clear Gel Pen

Our New Foster Dog Lizzie

2010-03-14T12:28:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted! So much has been going on around here the last couple of weeks! This is our new foster dog Lizzie! She is part Golden and part Sheltie. Since I've gotten involved with Golden Retriever rescue I had been wanting to foster a dog in need. Carol from Almost Heaven GR Rescue in WV asked if I would take Lizzie and of course I was happy to! Lizzie had been a resident of the sanctuary for over two years and during that time not one person inquired about adopting her. She had a little anxiety the first day or so since she wasn't used to being in a home for so long but it didn't take her long to settle in and become part of the family. She is really a sweetheart and we have gotten very attached to her already. I love how she lays with her paws crossed, apparently that is characteristic of Shelties, according to several friends who have them. She gets along well with the boys and the cats as well. More than likely she will become a permanent resident, I don't think I could give her up!

Snow, snow and more snow!

2010-02-07T22:08:00.000-05:00

We got hammered over the weekend by that huge snowstorm that slammed the Mid-Atlantic area on Friday into Saturday! By the time it finally ended around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday we had 27" on the ground. We started digging out Saturday evening but today was the major dig-out! There is so much snow we just don't have anywhere to put it so we piled it up in the front yard!

Dusty, Sammy and I managed to get a little walk in around the block and Dusty was loving being off-leash where he could run ahead of Sammy and I. Dusty can be trusted to come right back to me but not Sammy, he will take off in a heartbeat! They enjoyed their little walk, including knocking Mom down in the snow at one point!

And now we are under another Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday into Wednesday with the potential for more heavy snow! I have no idea where we will put it! Fortunately throughout the storm we didn't lose power but quite a few people in MD did, including some friends. We hope everyone has power restored very soon!

Homemade Bath Salts!

2010-01-08T09:39:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to try making some homemade bath salts for birthday gifts for several of my stamping friends and I found a great recipe online at BetterBudgeting.com. It's a great site for tips on saving money which is especially helpful given today's economy. I ordered these great jars from My Favorite Things, they are the perfect size for filling with just about anything and they have squared sides which makes for easier altering (at least for me anyway!) They come in a set of 4 for $13.95.

The label is also from My Favorite Things, it's called Time for the Bubbly Label. I stamped it on GP110 White, colored with Copics and cut it out and mounted it with dimensionals onto a strip of DP from my stash. Ribbon is from my stash as well, I believe it came from the Offray Ribbon Outlet. The Large Scallop Circle was punched out of SU's Cool Carribean (retired). Flowers are Prima's from my stash along with the large glittery brads. Flowers are mounted on the scallop with a large dimensional purchased from Texas Jody Lynn. These were a lot of fun to make and I hope the birhday girls enjoy their gifts!

If you'd like to try making the Homemade Balt Salts yourself, here's the recipe, they are very easy to make:

HOMEMADE BATH SALTS

In a large glass or metal bowl, stir together: 2 cups Epsom Salt or Dead Sea Salt or 1 cup of each (I doubled the recipe so I'd have enough and used both salts. I found the Dead Sea Salt at my local craft store) If you use the Dead Sea Salt, be sure to remove any dark pieces that may have slipped through processing.

1-2 teaspoons of baking soda, if desired (makes skin soft)

10-12 drops of essential oil (I used Green Tea w/cucumber which I also purchased at my local craft store)

Several drops of coloring, which I found at my local craft store as well (I used green)

Next: Stir together really well, at least two minutes. The more you stir the more the scent begins to come through. Pour into whatever containers you are going to use and decorate as desired. You can use mason jars, baby food jars, or even spaghetti and jelly jars. I also found some pretty glass containers at Walmart that weren't expensive.

January ShoeBox Swap Card

2010-01-07T23:11:00.003-05:00

Amanda from the Meade Girls is hosting a Shoebox Swap this Saturday and I can't wait! It will be a nice relaxing activity after the rush of the holidays! Here is the card I created to take to the swap. I thought a Valentine Card would be nice since Valentine's Day is right around the corner!

Card Ingredients are all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise indicated:

Stamps: Love You Much, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pretty In Pink

Cardstock: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart DP, GP110 White

Accessories: Pretty in Pink Ribbon, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals
Rose Red and Black SU Markers, Sponge

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T13:06:00.003-05:00

Happy 2010 Everyone! I know it has been quite a while since I've posted anything, so much has happened in the last couple of months and I just haven't had the time to keep up with my blog. Hopefully, now that the holidays are over I will be able to get back to posting regularly!

Since my last post we have lost Rusty, our Golden Retriever who was diagnosed with cancer back in September. He fought a good fight and hung in there as long as he could but sadly passed away at home on Oct. 19, 2009. Then, not even a month later, on Nov 16, 2009 we lost our 12 1/2 yr. old Yellow Lab Sadie to congestive heart failure. She and Rusty were buddies and practically grew up together so after he passed away she stopped eating and went downhill rapidly. She apparently had some heart problems that we weren't aware of and with her not eating, things just got much worse. She didn't respond to medication and an appetite stimulant and we unfortunately had to have her put to sleep to stop her suffering.

But there is also good news to share as well. We recently adopted two Golden Retrievers that desperately needed homes. Dusty came from Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue in WV, is about 2 years old and is a real sweetheart. He's also Mama's Boy! Sammy was adopted from the PG County Animal Shelter. He was found as a stray so we don't know anything about him at all but we think he is around 7 years old. He was very thin and has some ear and skin problems but we are working to get him healthy again. He's a real sweetie too and loves his Daddy especially! We miss Rusty and Sadie terribly but are happy to be able to give Dusty and Sammy the loving home they both deserve so much.

Here's some pics of the newest members of our family!

Sammy

Dusty

Laurel Shoebeox Swap

2009-10-06T20:50:00.001-04:00

I love shoebox swaps! If you've never been to one you should definitely go sometime! They are so much fun and you meet such nice people! Fortunately we have several per year in our area hosted by several wonderful ladies! Besides the nice people and great food, there is so much inspiration to be had with all the different cards! I always come away with some great ideas for color combos, layouts, and new stamps to be purchased!

I recently attended a swap in Laurel, MD hosted by ScrapKathy on Splitcoast Stampers. This was Kathy's first time hosting a swap and she did a fantastic job! You would have thought it was her 100th, not her first! Every single card was wonderful, I couldn't have picked a favorite if I tried! This is the card I made for the swap, which was a Fall/Winter theme.

Here's the ingredients, all are Stampin' Up! : Stamp: Home for Christmas; Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red DSP; Ink: Choc. Chip, Handsome Hunter; Accessories: Small Oval and Oval Scallop Punches, SU Markers, Brads, Handsome Hunter Ribbon, Dimensionals

My New Blog

2009-10-06T09:08:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my new blog! I've switched over to Blogger as I wasn't all that happy with Typepad since I'm not terribly web saavy and it was much harder to use.

So, I'm starting all over and will be adding to this new blog as time permits. Since my last post on my old blog I have been dealing with the devastating news that our 10 yr. old Golden Retriever Rusty has cancer of the spleen/liver and hasn't been given a lot of time. Right now he is doing well but we've been told he will become weaker as time goes on. So I am spending lots of time with him and also working with our local Golden Retriever Rescue at the moment. So my posts will probably be limited for a while. As some of you may remember, I named my blog Golden Paper Dreams in honor of my love for Golden Retrievers and my passion for stamping. Here's a pic of Rusty just taken about a week ago out on our deck. Looking forward to getting my new blog set up!