Lookie what I made....

I made a hat for one of my boys...working on the other one.  Isn't it cute?  And it is totally cute and super easy to whip up!  I used a pattern from one of my all time crochet pattern artist, Mamachee, yep it's another one of Tara's creations!  Love, love, love her patterns!  Check out Mamachee's Etsy store.  There's also a rumor that Tara is working on getting a book published too!  How stinkn' cool is that!

Here is my little Sammy-doodles wearing his new hat and being funny!   Look at that cheesy plastered on grin....tooo funny and cute.

Here is a side view....look at that face.  He is too cute and funny!  We found out that this hat was slightly too small, you can see it in the pictures.  So I am making him a new one that is slightly larger.  But I love the yarn...bright orange snowflake with that yummy aqua blue snowflake yarn....and Jeremy's will be opposite his main color will be the aqua blue with an orange stripe.

Thanks for stopping by today and I am working on my advent calendar....I am on day 9...whoo!  I might just show you what I have done and go from there. 

Blessings and have a great day!

Mary

Feature Saturday

I have missed the last couple of Feature Saturday posts....can't believe it.  Like everyone else, we've been crazy busy!

Well I found a totally awesome inspirational blog.   I love it!  Rita is a Wedding planner in D.C.  Now I don't need a wedding planner....(insert sad face here! I think I will be forever single and that's ok.=)  But her blog
The Ritzy Bee is chalked full of inspiration. 

I do not have any photo's from her blog...because I haven't had chance to contact her to see if it would be ok....but you have got to check out her blog....the photo collages are totally awesome.  The ideas and concepts are soooo stinkn' cool and I find myself lost in creativity when looking at her blog.  There is so much yummy goodness to take in...so check it out!

If you have some cool blogs that you want to share with me, I'd love to check it out. Please leave me a comment with the link or url and I'll check it out.

I hope you have a super spenlenderific weekend!!

Many Blessings,
Mary

Gina K - Blog Hop

Well I love, love, love Gina K Designs stamps. I use them all the time and a lot of the time, I don't get photos of them because I make gifts and use them up quickly. My family hordes all the cards that I make with my Gina K stamps! It's too funny and very sweet that they love me so much. 


My aunt and some of our family friends, that I make cards for - don't even use the cards. LOL! They display them around their house and my cards have become part of their decorations. Well that is soooo flattering. I am blessed with such sweet, kind and supportive family and friends.  Make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Well I saw this month over that Gina K is having their first every customer Blog Hop and I HAVE to be a part of that! So I made a set of Christmas cards using the new and totally awesome stamp set from Nina Brackett call Vintage Borders...I mean seriously-when I saw the previews of this set....I said to myself "Where have you been ALL my life?!!??" LOL! I know that's a little dramatic - but I can be that way sometimes. (Some of you know that already...LOL!)

This stamp set is a must have and I find that it's becoming a fast favorite already. It has never left my sight....it's on my work table along with a few of my other stamping staples. The stamp set is full of trendy images - scallops, and scallops with grid, sheet music... (Seriously how stinkn' cool is the sheet music!!! I don't know about you but those few patterned paper pack that have the sheet music, I horde and only use bits and pieces - afraid I'll run out. I hope I am not the only weird-o that does that...LOL!) Well I don't have to horde anymore because I can make my own sheet music patterned paper now with this stamp set. Tooo cool!

Sharing my Thoughts:
Christmas is my favorite time of year!  We get to celebrate the birth of my Savoir - Jesus Christ!!!  I love the smells, sights, sounds and memories of  Christmas.  And having kids always make Christmas even more special. 
I am making an advent Calendar this year. (When I get it done - I'll show you and have some directions for you too, if you want to make your own.) 
I am going to have a little twist on our advent calendar.  We'll have not only the traditional piece of candy & symbols of Christmas (like the manger, animals, shepards, angel, etc.)  but we will have the opportunity to give thanks for everything we have.  This has been a rough year for so many people and being laid off myself, we have had our share of ups and downs...but through it all GOD has blessed us.  GOD has meet our every need and even exceeded our needs and has blessed us beyond measure.  So I think it is only fitting that we Celebrate Christmas by giving GOD thanks for everything he has done and for who He is. 

We are also going to sponsor a family this year.  There are so many people that are going through such a rough time and we have been so blessed that I have asked the boys to sponser a family for my Birthday present this year (My Birthday is Dec. 8) and when I shared with them my desire to bless others as my gift, they were on board and only had a few questions.  What an awesome teachable moment that was.  I love those times and cherish those moments.

Ok - sorry for rambling on....but hey it is my blog...LOL!!!

The deets on the card above: 
The layout is a CASE from K. Werner. (Love her sketches!) 
Stamps:  Gina K Designs - Vintage Borders, CHF - Polka Dot Background stamp
Ink:  Pure Poppy and Vintage Cream - Hybrid PTI ink, White Signo Gel Pen
Paper:  Cosmo Cricket - Jolly By Golly DP, PTI - Kraft, Pure Poppy, and Drk Choco CS.
Accessories: Stampin' Up-Scallop punch and Martha Stewart- Snowflake punch

For more inspiration using Gina K Design stamps, please visit Gina K and take part in her Blog Hop.

Thanks for stopping by today and many, many blessings being sent your way!

Mary

With Sympathy

It's never fun making a Sympathy card.  I made this one for my mom's friend at work.

We have been super, duper, ubery, busy here.  I've been preparing for the craft show tomorrow.  Whoo Hoo! it's finally here and I pray everything sell!  =)

I do have lots of stuff to share with you....some of my creations that I've been making over the past few weeks....so I will talk with you soon.

Blessings,

Happy Wednesday!

Hello!  I am almost done making the changes to my blog....Need to fix my signature....anyone know how to do that with the HTLM code in stead of doing under settings?

Oh my did I make one UBER mistake.  I was so excited to start changing my blog, that I forgot to backup my template!  Can you say...UGH!!!  Well as you may or may not notice, my Inspiring Blog list is different (since I didn't have a backup, I am missing some of my fav. blogs that I visit.)  If you notice that your blog is not listed there, please email me and if you'd like to be on my blog roll, please email me at MDuffek at msn dot com.

NOTE:  I have also extended My Blog Challenge for another week.  So please check it out and play along if you have the time.

Many Blessings,

Don't mind the dust....

Please don't mind the dust on my blog....I am trying to give it an updated fall look...

Blessings and thanks for stopping by...I'll have some projects to share with you all soon.

Mary

Challenge Project & Challenge Blog Candy

This is the project I made using my Blog Challenge #3.  I re-purposed an old inexpensive photo album.  I made the front and back covers and filled the pages with some hybrid mini scrapbook pages and pics of the boys, for my mom's birthday tomorrow.

It was a lot of fun to make...I dug thru my one drawer that is full of half finished projects or filled with other paper craft items I found on sale.


Thanks and have a great day!

Free Class....check it out!

Jessica Sprague is awesome!  She is offering another FREE class....how stinkn' cool is that for us!  I have been able to take two of Jessica's classes and they are top rate.  Love her teaching, you will not be disappointed.

I will be posting the Challenge soon.... I have been taking care of another sick child today....UGH!  So time has gotten away from me.

Blessings!

Mary

The Challenge

The Challenge will be posted tomorrow. I am sorry that it will be late.  The day has gotten away from us....and I have some projects to get done before bed tonight and that means I will not be posting my challenge until tomorrow.  =(

But.....
I did make some yummy zucchini bread this evening....love the smell of baking bread in the fall....the house smells all warm and spicy.  Makes me want to curl up on the couch and enjoy my family and thank God for his abundant blessings.

See you tomorrow!!!

Blessings,

Mary

Boys...

My boys turn my world upside down....and it's in a POSTIVE way!  I love these little men.  They are treasures from God.  I thank God daily for them....

We had a small extreme amateur photo shoot in our back yard the other day. It was over cast and we had no sun....so I will retaking these again soon when we have some more natural sunlight.

I love to take pictures of the boys every fall of them playing in the leaves and being goofy.  Cherished Memories!  (I so want to take Maggie Holmes online photo course or Jessica Sprague online course.) I love their style of photography.  Someday...

I love this picture too....they both have genuine smiles...and it warms me from the inside out.

I also wanted to appologize for missing my Featured Saturday post....Please fogive me....I was making homemade apple pie and chicken pot pie for my growing boys, we cuddles on the couch after playing some games and watched a movie.  And with all the excitement of the day I totally spaced that I started a new feature on my blog....But I know you understand!

I will also be posting Nov. Blog Challenge later today....

We are getting ready for church and will be leaving soon....Thanks for stopping by and many blessings!

Mary