All heARTS Day

Hello Blog Friends!

Are you looking for some Valentine loving?

I always have some cards 'in stock'.... (currently, these posted today on my blog... are one of a kind and in stock) and because most all of my cards are uniquely doodled or hand embellished... I can re-create cards listed in the categories on the left side of my blog.... however, they are <---- are="" b="" because="" however="" they="">one of a kind papers, inks ...and actual colors might vary, slightly if something is re-created!!

So, you  might like little piggies, or doggies, or cupids or just lots of hearts.... pick out a theme or a color scheme and I'd be happy to create a whimsical creative greeting just for you... for you to give to that special someone in your life... someone who deserves more than a last minute grocery store card.

Tucker in Pinks

Girly Girl with purple heart

Banner of Hearts

Mosaic Heart

*Most cards are invitation size 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" and come with an envelope.  Starting at $3.50 ... I figure out for the best mailing cost to you and always... the more you purchase the better your value!  

Remember, my cards are handmade (original artwork by me... may be computer generated for a doodle, and purchased rubber stamps)  and *most are made to order.... *most of the time they are blank on the inside for you to add your personal sentiments!

*And I say MOST, because there are soooooo many possibilities, right?  Why limit yourself!!!!

Isn't time for you to 

Brighten Someone's Day?

Send A little Love in your Mail Box

Hello Blog Friends,

We are at Week #4 of 2017.

I'm keeping track of the weeks of the year in a few ways.  To challenge myself, if life unto itself is not challenge enough, I subscribe to a Doodle Challenge or two, Word Challenges and Self Care Challenges, that are all documented around the weeks.

As my part of the Year of MORE... and the easy way I put a twist on it... I want to be MORE of myself... (not self-centered, and I'm all that) but just turn it up a notch and be, do, share a little bit more of what I have to offer.

I may have stated it here before... but like computers, cell phones and any technology... you can have the basic model... but once the creators find something new to add to 'it' to make it better... they number it so you can update and be current.  Better than before.

So, the original me ... was, Peggy.  Then I became Peggy 1.0..... right now, I'm way above a 10 currently, (old school, like the movie I'm a TEN) like when people say age is just a number .... trust me... I'm Peggy but new and improved with every experience, learning opportunity and challenge... I'm trying my best to be updated... or up to date.... to give, share, do.... SHINE... with MORE!

Here's one thing I bet you didn't know about me, I make whimsical greeting cards!  

****shameless plug**** 

This hobby of mine really is almost all I talk about here on my blog!  Valentine's Day is coming up.... why not send some snail mail to a friend?

BEE Mine

To be totally honest with you, because when it comes from my heart talking about myself.... I don't know how to be otherwise.... this "hobby" of mine really hasn't taken off  how I thought it would.  

I'm not ready to give up on it, however!  

I thought maybe, I would have returning customers, or new customers wanting cards to send to their friends... purchasing every month, or throughout the year. and buying packs of greeting cards to give as gifts.

From what I can tell, you my friends love to receive my cards as a gift... but after that... the world has become too busy and well ... sales are non-existent. (Poor me)

Love Me... Tucker

I'm a little sad about it. But hey,  I am very blessed and fortunate that I don't make cards or art for a living... I'd really be that 'starving artist'.

Hearts of Love

Meantime, while I work on my purpose, and while I explore  MORE of me to be an even 'better' version.... I will continue to work on art from my heart.   

Cards like the one above don't have to be sent out only on Valentine's Day.  

From the small amount of research I've done (and actually, I've created a few surveys and calculated the data), people love finding snail mail in their mailbox. The hand addressed stamped envelope to them does really improve their mood and their outlook of the day.   It's amazing how they will tear open a greeting card to read it, (nicely use a  letter opener) versus tossing in a pile, the humdrum of the bills and marketing advertisements they receive on a daily basis. Snail mail is a card with the hug in its fold!!

With just a few weeks a way from Valentine's Day, I'd love to create some whimsy for you.  Contact me in the comment section, or send me an email at prdesigns1@sbcglobal.net.  My greeting cards will surely
Brighten Someone's Day!

Every Day is Special

Have you ever noticed that the month of February seems to be filled with holidays?

Some are more celebrated than others.  There are holidays that are more commercial, some that are obscure, and others barely noticed by anyone.

To recognize friends and family on any day is something very special.  As a cardmaker, I think any and every day should be celebrated.

In no particular order.... Valentine's day!  Don't you hate it when people say 'happy valentimes day'? TIMES...... where on earth did that come from?  Some say it's sappy.... Hallmark holiday to make money.... yeah, so what?  We need to promote more love.... there is enough hate and craziness out there.  MORE LOVE!

Last week there was Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday), Ash Wednesday and other weird little celebrating days.... along with Lincoln's birthday, Presidents' Day etc.... and of course all the people who celebrate birthdays in February!  The above is a dragon doodle, drawn by hand with pen and paper.... and then....

I uploaded it to the computer to color it in ... and add the text.

Holidays and special days are good for a graphic artist.  They keep us busy creating!

Nothing poignant to my blog post today.  

I'm happy that I can always find something to create... every day.

Shameless Plug

Hey, I'm glad you stopped by!

Can you believe we are halfway into the month of January already??

I feel great when the sun is shining... blue skies today... it is beautiful!!! What are the POSSIBILITIES?

Currently I am watching 3 darling little squirrels frolicking in my backyard.  They love the bird feeder litter.  Cooper is watching out the window as well.  I told him he is not allowed to play with them, they are our friends... we'll see if there is any fun adventure that could come out of  this.

 

Back to card making... my first  (creative) love.  If you like my cards and I know that you do ... help a friend out... buy a few for your stash, buy a gift pack for a friend, or link my blog to a friend who loves to help a small business. 

My greeting cards are quite unique... you will not find them anywhere else ... all you have to do is think a bit ahead and figure out what events you have coming your way... birthdays, anniversaries.... someone who needs a bit of FuN MaiL.  Most cards start at $3.00 each and if you purchase more than 3 at one time... it will include shipping and handling!

 

Valentine's Day is coming up. And then card making season goes crazy... St. Patricks' Day, Easter, Mother's Day.... any day is a great day to send a card... 'thinking of you day' or just because day... they all work!!!

 

I do other paper crafts as well... all uniquely handmade.  The above is a Pinterest success... book paper flower wreath.... I love it!  I make mini scrapbook albums, tags, notebooks, invitations and personalized items.

 

Maybe this year, you've decided to give the little guy some of your hard earned cash because you want to support local artists. 

 

I don't want to shame you in buying from me :0) ... but the next time you are in the grocery store at the last minute buying a greeting card for $3.99 + tax .... slap your forehead and think you could have gotten a special creative greeting for less.

 

***** the only shameless plug I have planned *****

 

Brighten Someone's Day and send a Creative Greeting by prdesigns!!!

Be My Valentine

Here is a beary cute card I left for my DH with a bottle of Red Velvet Wine from the vineyards of Cupcake.  I know I've said it before, lack of creativity a bit I guess, but I am so happy with the way I can display my cards with my bristle frog flower.  Doodled a cute little bear with Prismacolor pencils and water color pencils and put together like colored patterned paper for the background to keep in the theme of Red and Pinks and hearts and Valentines' Day♥ Be MINE

Going back to Cupcake, I think it's a great name for a wine.  Unexpected.  Since the Italians (and I say that loosely, because we have learned a lot of things from these people and about these people, the investors and CEO who have taken over DH's company) have come into our lives we have a new appreciation for wine.  DH was introduced to wine with the dinner meetings.  Oh, we drank wine before, communion wine, cheap boxed wine, reds, whites, pinks...clueless????  We have some foodie friends who would talk to us about wine in the summer time, when you seem to have more time.  So now, we are trying different wine flavors and drinking more wine with our meals.  (Isn't red wine good for your heart?) We stop and taste wines in the grocery store, weird, I know! We eat nuts with wine and different cheeses with different wines.  We have 'special' wine glasses and a special aerator to poor the wine ~ better. 

We are hoping to go to a wine tasting class and maybe visit a local winery this summer.  What kind of hobby lets you get sloshed while trying it?  JK... but we are finding this wine stuff very interesting!

Piggie Pops

Ending out the week with another cute pork roll. I really like how the scalloped black background frame really 'pops' on this card... it really draws you into the cute pudgi-ness of this cute little piggie bringing poseys! For you?  Remember, there is never a wrong time to send FuN MaiL!!!!

Seven (?) layers, pinks and reds, swirls, flowers, hearts and ribbon, a doodled dude is super perfect for a su-weet valentine friend!

Almost done with my first week at the new job.  I take a lot of deep breaths...just breathe!!   I have finally learned that I'm not going to get stressed over things I'm just learning... new terms, new people, new habits....I used to be so worried about that kind of 'stuff'... but I know I'm really doing the best job I can!

Looking out my beautiful window to the world (typing this at my kitchen table looking into the back yard).... I keep reminding myself that it is winter... the grass is completely bare from any traces of snow. Winter in the mid-west and no snow?? It's a gloomy day today too, so that makes it perfect for the winter blues.... but just gotta turn that frown upside down.  No football this weekend...that is strange too!

When Pigs Fly

Learned a new word to today..... the phrase, "when pigs fly" is an adynaton, which is a figure of speech.  Who would think that cu-pig could go from a cherubic little Roman figure to an adorable portly pink pig.... but he has! That, is no hyperbole... describing an impossibility. I just love the layout and the colors of this card and of course the su-weet Cu-PIG! Love is in the air ♥

I'm on day 4 of the new part time job.  I am job sharing a receptionist position and a small manufacturing plant in the city I live it.  So far, so good!  I think I have answering the phones down pat! I must truly admit, I thought I needed a change in my life, and I certainly have got one. It's been a year of changes with our son off to college, our daughter driving and getting more independent, my dh going through a stressful job situation..... according to Pinterest.... the funny thing about life can be put into 3 simple words.... it goes on!

Sweet Hogs

In simple drawing terms, all animals and people and landscapes can be drawn with shapes - circles - squares- triangles etc... that are just built up upon themselves to create the shape and then color and shading come into the picture.  Pigs are cute roundness.... a lot of pigs aren't really fat.... that's the image to create a good pig story.  Wee wee, fat piggy toes..... weeeeeeeeeeeee goes the pig Max in the car with his pinwheel!

Sometimes the most simple things mean the most.

2.1.12

I went to Stamp Camp over the weekend and we got the opportunity to make about 5 different cards and 2 super cute paper craft boxes.  Here is one of the ♥ cards.  I did not know that they made so many variances for red paper.... this is a bright red!

Need to get some FuN MaiL addressed and  out the door.... pretty soon it sounds like the post office will stop Saturday service....  I think that's okay... maybe for delivery, but they might need to have the office open for those who work Mon-Fri and can't get in during the work week.

Here is a recent page from my ART Journal, just a snippet of a page, I love the color.  I'm sticking to being 'creative'.  This journal has been a fun challenge for me. Messy at times, but fun!

Just wanted to mention that we got the kids passports last week.  It only took two weeks!!!  Dear Hubby was surprised but I told him, the post office lady said the Fed. Govt puts it out there as 6-8 weeks for delivery but they often get it done quicker, but don't want the public to know, just in case there are problems or it's a busy time of the year and they wouldn't be able to meet a 2 week deadline.... makes sense.

Our snow has all melted!  But I'm sure I will see something about our big 3 foot snowfall one year ago today!

Where ever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sun SH!NE...

 Hearts, hearts everywhere, in a line, singled, doubled, big hearts, little hearts, traditional hearts, broken hearts, conversation hearts, hearts made into other things..... all fun ways to describe for paper crafters what interesting things we can do with a simple little shape.  Here are some colorful pink, blue and brown hearts (they may look familiar, they are part of COTM.... and the tags I showed the other day used the same pieces, just another way) these are all balancing on a knotted red string looped through two SH!NE-y eyelets.  Added a 'few' kisses to the sides by xxxx down the edge to give it some faux stitching.

My window to the world... looking out into the backyard through the kitchen windows, I see little finches swooping down from the trees to get a snack from the bird feeder.  They are so fun to watch... and as I type, they catch my eye as they zoom by.  Here are two sweet birds Zindorf style. A special card with a congratulatory wish... the sentiment is slightly popped up.

Loss: feeling it again.  Ten years ago about this time, every day was a busy day.  The weekends were filled with basketball games and dance recitals.  There was piano and violin lessons and sports practices.  Five years ago... there were volleyball games and hockey games.... and now... there is NONE of that....zilch....the hustle and bustle of activity is very quiet in my house.... it is very noticeable... and I'm a bit(understatement) sad and broken hearted about that loss...with my Year of SELF... I am Learning ways to embrace new and old feelings... and hope I Find these memories created and enriched a happy family!

Peggy

Bee Mine

A secret smile for  Your Best Friend's Closet! ;)

Skip a Beat

Graduated color.... from pale pink hearts all the way up to beating red hot!  This was a fun card to make.  The key to anyone's heart. It is a post card front situated on a greeting card, a twofer!

The heart is the center of all vital organs, the red (blood) the passion, the strong emotion of love are all part of this little holiday we call Valentine's Day! A perfect time to send out FuN MaiL ....♥ don't go to Hallmark, give creative greetings a chance..... lots of love, friendship, thinking of you cards available. :0)

Oh, my heart skips a beat

When we walk down the street

I feel a trembling in my knees

And just to know you're mine
Until the end of time

Makes my heart skip a beat ~ Buck Owens

Hearts and Dots

Oh, a new color combo that really looks adorable for a valentine tag .... light pink, pale blue and brown. I was so happy how these turned out.  Felt like I really had a winning combination and layout.

Tags are great on a gift instead of a bow.  They are awesome to attach to a full size candy bar and write a bit of inspiration or good fortune on the back, or fun to dangle off the side of some bubbly bottle with a hearty ♥ cheers!

Maybe these are a little busy,  but I had fun adding dots and cut outs and circles and hearts and tying it up with a bow!  A festive Valentine Gift tag that is going out with February's COTM.

Had about 5" of snow on Friday during rush hour... it was a mess.  Thank goodness I don't have to drive in it, but DH did.  A normal drive home for him on a good day is 20 minutes, Friday it was 1 hour and 15.  We finally got to use our snow 'insurance'.  DH (dear hubby) felt our little snow thrower (not blower) had difficulty getting through the end of the driveway with the 3 feet of snow we had last February...and since we were losing a snow shoveler in College Boy and there was talk of having a very severe winter in 2012 (El Nina`), he found a great deal on a pretty nice big blower.  I hope I entertained anyone who was looking our way as I was trying to maneuver it around.  But we must have got a few inches of rain overnight..... there is bare grass once again that was just 6" all around yesterday.... it says 42 degrees out.  Perfect combination for winter colds to sneek in!!!

It's strange but wonderful, but the house is back to 'normal' today.... new high school semester started, college boy is back at it, hubby is off making the bacon.... although bitter sweet.... I can crank up some tunes and dance around the house.... if I want to! :)

Come back again and see what's going on!

Passport Adventure

More banners!  Yesterday I posted about flags and banners, and again.... look!  More!  I got a few patterned paper stacks (%40 off) from J's.  This particular one is a Shabby Chic/Paris version.... thought the colors and style would look great for Valentine greetings!  It just needs a sentiment, but it really depends on who gets this card in some FuN MaiL!

***

Not everyone travels out of the country, but if you do, you need a passport. A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth. We got our passports through our local post office. That should be a simple thing to do, right?

My husband has traveled overseas for work and I have had a passport for a few years since we went on vacation in Belize, Mexico. We thought there could be a slight possibility that our kids might get a chance to travel (in the near future), either with us, or through foreign exchange programs in their schools. During this past winter break from school, it was perfect down time to get the passport task done; then we don’t have to pay extra fees for rush services or worry that it wont make it on time for a scheduled (or non scheduled) vacation.

We decided to fill out the paperwork, get the ID pictures taken and stand in line at the post office to the get documents finalized. First, we went to our local Walgreens to get the ID photos taken. A drug store by no means is a professional photo shop, but they do advertise they take ID/passport photos while you wait and they are fairly reasonably priced. It was a family outing to get the kids pictures taken. The photo gal had a few problems in the computer while doing our order, but we finally left with photos in hand, en route to the post office....

If you'd like to hear more.... please email me at prdesigns1@sbcglobal.net and put Passport in the subject line.  I'm trying something new! :0)

ID is PR

Here is a cute little project I found at Two Paper Divas.  The envelope for the card is a standard #10 or the kind that you normally receive bills (ugh) in.  With a few folds and a little bit of glue, you make the envelope look like a gift package.  The black strip with the circle and heart are a belly band that keep the flap down, and of course they add to the over all look and feel of the cuteness.

Next special card making holiday coming up, of course is Valentine's day.   This card was tucked inside the newly vamped envy and it fits perfectly!  Love the combo of pink/white/red and black!

The great thing about card giving is that there is at least some sort of holiday each month.... even if you don't believe in the holiday....(do a google search, there are holidays every day... some just not nationally celebrated.... but they are on a calendar.. somewhere)  it can be a season or time of the year!  Tell me who wouldn't want to get FuN MaiL.... just because (you thought of them?)

The name behind my REAL faux card company.  Simple, my initials are PR and I like to design things....so years back I always signed the front or back of all my artwork (like you are told to do in your first basic art class.... accept and acknowledge your work as YOURS) I thought the name had a 'ring' to it, and it sounded professional. Someone once thought it was a Public Relations firm.  The high school the kids go to, goes by it's initials.... PR... one parent thought my email paid homage to that (I'm not THAT crazy) Of all the different things I've done over the years.... I've really been happy with my name, my blog name, my creative id!

Happy B-balance Day!!!

- Don't Stumble
- What the heck

I love being amazed every day. Those aha moments.... learning to better yourself and the world around you. I found this new site for people um like me... who don't have enough to do or think about during the day called...Stumble Upon. Once you sign up (free), you can put it on your tool bar to click any time you've come to the end.... of whatever, and it generates and finds websites of places you might be interested in (you check a page of different interests like... travel, crafts, self improvement, cars, cooking etc...) so if you were 'feeling lucky' on google, now you can stumble upon different websites that you might have never found before. It's kind of fun! I am just amazed at how many creative places there are out there in cyber land. I tried to be funky with my free blogger layout (on all 4 of my blogs), and I try to make whimsical & unique cards, and I try to give my take of the real world as I see it... but I'm just scratching the surface of THE OTHERS out there.

So, don't forget it's Valentine's Day!!!! The card above is fun and is CAS-ed (more on the digi side of creating) .... but it's missing something!!! Hmmmm... I made lots of cards this year for the heart day, loved every minute of the creative process... but didn't have a single sole request a card to give as their FuN MaiL. Thank goodness this is just my hobby, if it were my job... oh my. But then I think too... if this were my job... would it be fun for me anymore? I need a happy B-balance(Back to BASICS) of both!

love

Introducing Cre8tive Greetings!!

- Heart's Desire
- A bit funky

Years ago when I became a card maker (oh that reminds me, I need to look in the crawl space and find xeroxed copies of some of my 'original' cards) the picture on the front meant everything. Then when I was introduced to SU! around 2002 all cards were stamped! But I of course did not want to HAVE to purchase every stamp, because
A. I'd be broke
B. I loved to draw!!!

I could do that!!! Now I look at today's post and it's paper piecing, nary a stamp (just teeny tiny ones) or doodle in sight, it's all about the paper, the colors, the punches and the embossing folders to imprint an image.... well today it is!! Tomorrow is just another day to make something else in the FuN MaiL department! Oh, that takes me to another point.... I-infinate ways to create and make something sweet! Part of going Back to BASICS.

Here I am funked up a bit. Notice the flower on my lapel I made (yesterday's post)?? My hair is much shorter... really short in back... shaggy on the sides....it's ok for now... it will grow, and next time I'll try something different.

Very, very cold out, 3 degress, I'm snug with a fuzzy 10 lb blanket on my lap!!

Baby it cold outside

- Today's Fun Mail
- Yards of snow

Will you Beee Mine? This card is so darn adorkable!! Layers of ribbons and scallops and black matting and circles and stitching and ribbon and Spellbinders die cuts... now granted, this type of card may take a good part of an hour to layout and create and then ink and paste and stitch... but it turns out so yummy! It could be for Valentine's... or really any time. I read something recently that most of the people all over the world really don't celebrate "Valentine's Day" it's a Ha$$mark induced Holiday.... but there is always a "GOOD TIME" to send out FuN MaiL to let someone know you love them, you are thinking of them, you think they are doing a great job... you just think the world of them. We need more FuN MaiL!!

Not a few inches, not even a foot, but piles of snow by the yard!!!! Here is a view out the front porch door toward the street. There is a patch of grass to the left.... spot for the dogs.... Bubba is cleaning off his car... and this is how we look after the Blizzard of 2011. I think we got a little over a foot of new snow, but all the blowing and drifting and now the piles, it's hard to tell. On Tuesday we were at 9" on the ground... and I tried to measure in another just plain open spot and it looked like 23".... they said O'Hare got 20" during the storm. No school again today. Right now it's -4 degrees out.