Is it Winter or not?

in the depths of
winter i finally
learned that there
was in me an
invincible summer
~albert camus

 

 

Week #50 LIFE'S simple pleasure -winter

So, over this past weekend we got our first real measurable amount of snowfall here in the upper Midwest.  About 4".  It looks pretty, and it's cold... last night the thermometer dipped to -2 degrees. 

May I remind you it's not even winter yet according to the calendar!

My husband would like to disagree in regard to that statement... it's like those who wont turn their airconditioning on during a fluke 95 degree day in the middle of April.  Or those fanatics that will not turn their furnace on when it dips into the 30s at the end of October... the calendar doesn't say so! 

Forget about modern conveniences and comfort for the sake of what date it is on the calendar! You showed them!!!

I was walking Cooper (the black lab mix) yesterday without his sidekick Pomeranian Tucker.  Little Tucker's footpads couldn't handle the snow and the extreme cold.  Poor little doggie.

During our walk I happened upon a man who was shoveling his driveway (sans a hat and gloves). He lives on a different street than us.

I said hello, with a wave.  He commented back, "what do you think of this?".... motioning to all the snow.  I stated back that I didn't really mind, yes it was very cold but the sun was shining.  And it's winter and I can't change it, so I am going to look for the good in it!  It looks pretty.

 I think he was surprised!  We are so used to people agreeing with us about the negative things.

It truly is a mindset.  You are only as old as you feel.  So what if the calendar isn't quite in the winter solstice, 4" of snow and -2 degrees, it's winter.  You don't have to be rich to sparkle.  Wherever you go, bring your own sunSHINE.

Even in winter an isolated patch of snow has a special quality
~ Andy Goldsworthy

Send out FuN MaiL!

It is a brand new year!!!  Happy New Year everybody.  If you are interested, my sidebars on my blog here are full of information.  If you'd like a synopsis of 2011, click on the Robinson Replay, it's my Christmas news letter!  If you just want to see greeting cards and paper crafts that I make, click on the little lady in yellow, she will take you to my card blog. And if you want to follow along 365 days of pictures (didn't quite make it, but there are a lot of fun pictures) click on the icon with the camera!  I found the great way to design 2012 (above) on Pinterest.....

I'm up for pretty much anything and wanted to try the Oreo Cookie Cupcake recipe.  Photos of yummy food, how awesome is that?  If you are just dying to try this recipe and can't find it when you do a google search, just email me, and I will forward you the recipe.  My email can be found at the top of this blog!

Sent out HNY!!! cards this year.  Had to be a little different.  It's a shy little penguin with a big NEW YEAR wish of joy, peace, love and happiness! Send out FuN MaiL!!!!!

Check back often and see what I'm up to!!!!

Blast from the Past

I've been writing this blog for a long time!  I thought I'd go back to one of my first months of posting and find some cute card I created over 5 years ago.  Do you believe? 

What an awesome way this computer allows us to record history.  How will documenting digital photos and blogs, emails and webs and all the other technology be in another 5 years.  Where will I be then???

I recently caught up with a friend from college.  Can you find me in this dated picture from 1983???? I thought that there was never a picture taken of her and I together... and she told me, yes! just the one for the yearbook.  Good memory.  So sad almost 30 years ago.... documenting 'history' was so odd, cheap cameras, expensive film, expensive developing fees... and boxes full of photos that were blurry or heads cut off!

This is my personal daily diary.  Thanks for visiting and taking this journey with me.

Big Ole Heart

Hello Everyone.... waves the cute snowman.

He is one happy dude!

Don't you think? I got an order for some snowmen cards and I want to create the very best and most cutest snowman cards in the world.... that's what I like to do.

There are so many ways to create them, one circle, two or three, top hat or stocking cap, scarf/no scarf, stick arms with or without mittens, carrot nose, coal for eyes or google eyes, snowflakes falling, more than one snowman, holding bells, with a bird on his hat, with a gift by his side, a great big red heart on his chest... as you can read the possibilities are endless. One thing is for sure.... more snowmen to come!

Sunny and blue skies today 38 and the wind is whipping around. Our major tree on the back patio that got hit by storms this past summer just lost the last of it's leaves. So I was raking them up yesterday. Darn, I should have waited one more day and they would have blown away.

Thank you to those who stop in and check out my blog. I hope that on most days your visit to my blog brings a smile to your face.

Snowmen Melt My Heart

It's that time of year .... all kinds of snowmen!!!

And the holiday season has officially begun. Thanksgiving next week and then Black Friday and every day after that is chaos, mayhem and craziness.

Just running my normal errands the stores are busier.

More fun cards, crafts and happy opportunities on their way!

Very Merry

-The Warm Up

Okay, it appears my lap top needs time to warm up. Even though the fan is running constantly, it did not want to help me post to the blog yesterday. I will have to wait until after Santa comes to see if there are any pennies left in my piggy bank!! I don't know how long I will be able to post.... before it shuts me down. And then there is the adventure.... so....Happy Merry Christmas Holiday wishes, just in case I can't post and this 'thing' bites the dust!

And it's very merry sunny day out today. This is a very good thing!

Penguin Pal

Well, take a look at this little fun guy!! I was inspired! I CASEd this project (Copy And Steal Everything).... some creative soul on SCS and then how many card makers took the idea and made it their own??

I got the Label 1 nestabilities last week and have been trying to catch up to all the cards people are making with it... then I saw this cutey patootie little guy and thought I too had to try and make him! He's an after the holidays type of card. I used SU! punches for his eyes, wings, nose and feet. Martha Stewart snowflake punch! I like how he turned out. He would brighten anyone's day after this long winter of what? 2 days, a foot of snow and minus degree weather?

Cheers to you

I've seen a couple card makers with this olive in martini glass.
So, I gve it a try. Used glaze over the part where the drink
would be. Can't tell by the photo, but makes it glossy. This
is a little plain and simple compared to my Markie's Mom
cards, but it's fun to work in all different ways.

brrrr, stay warm! It was 6 degrees out when I took Cooper for his walk!!! What, am I crazy??? yes!

Snowball Hello

Now I'm deciding if I should change over to cute snowy cards, and be done with the Chrismtas cards. I've made all the ones I need... sales are slow... so no cards are hoping off my shelves.... and I do love snowmen... especially these cute snowballs from Whipper Snapper Designs. Snowy cards can take you through January, before you have to start stocking up on Valentine cards.

This card is based off of Markie's Mom designs, with the layers and dots. A few weeks ago I got the snowflake punch, it's a Martha Stewart brand. I like adding a little bling to the flake.

The one thing about winter is you always have something to say about the weather. It's about 33 degrees out and raining, hard, so the snow is melting, but the water is also semi freezing causing slushy conditions with some hidden ice spots.... ah, mid west winters!!!

Snowfall

Inspired ~ I love these snow ball guys, I believe from Whipper Snapper. They are so cute and jolly. This guys is cheering for a snow FALL.... we woke up this morning with a dusting of snow... it looks pretty outside. We got our outdoor Christmas decorations up this weekend. It was fairly decent to be outside and on the roof. We will light the house... gotta wait until after Thanksgiving.... I'll post a picture of our picturesque cute house with lights.

Used markers to color him in. Patterned paper background from a stack pack.

Okay, I'm done with winter... is it spring yet???

This bear will warm your heart!

I thought I was going to start the post with an update on Polar bears and global warming... but I don't think I know how accurate that information is .... so on to cute stuff instead.

I used my nestabilities scallop square and realized my paper wasn't big enough, so it came out with the cut off affect. It will do. I love the cool blues and greens together. Stickled 'icicle' on his pom pom and scarf. The image is inspired by Whipper Snapper designs. The snowflake embossing folder is the main card. Used a snowflake embellishment to carry the theme.

Fluffy snowman

A simple snowman image 'cased' wearing a fluffy hat and scarf, cuttlebuged the patterned paper with the snowflake embossing folder, added a little fiber and a 'fun'ky fluffy snowman greeting.

Rudy & Bird

Did I post this one already? Mmmm, don't remember, it's been another busy week. This is a cute case from the the Elyzabell stamp. Just copied and drawn by me! yay me! I used stickles for his red nose.

Did an open house last night. Exposure, not much in sales. I guess I like all my personal clients that have me make special cards for them. Not sure if I'd look too far in the future to do craft fairs. I need to rope them in, giving them FREE cards first.... then when they run out of my cute whimsy on a card... they HAVE to buy more... their friends and family expect it!!!!

Snow dudes

Okay, yes once again, I've not posted in a bit, but I have been making cards, wrapping gifts, going shopping, cleaning the house, making treats, creating cards.... whew, just like everybody else, how do the holidays sneak up so quickly. This post is a few more snowmen, my favorite kind of guy in the winter time. All cards are hand drawn by me, but all images are cased from much more talented artists who create unique characters that are fun and challenge for me to draw. I suppose I could do my own, but it's so fun to copy! Ssssshhh!!! Don't tell my kids that! Thanks for looking. I'll be posting more holiday/winter cards again!

Rudolph

No snowman today. This image is 'cased' from the Elyzabell (?) stamps. Which means I totally copied their image but drew it myself... a little reinder and birdie watch a snow flake fall. Nothing special about the card other than the cute image, basic image on background paper with a little embellishment on card stock. Rudy's nose is colored with red stickles!

Stitchin snowman

The layout of this card is similar to one on the front cover of the November issue of PaperCraft Mag. Last year I was in a holiday card swap that we got all the supplies and just needed to pull the cards together. Let me tell you, that was real 'sweet' to find in my card rotation (yeah right!) bin. I had totally forgotten about the swap... I have about 12 different cards I can make, so this was one of them. Check out my blog again real soon! Like I said before, I love makin' snowmen, the paper ones!!!

*** ps Kim!!! thanks for all your wonderful comments!!! to all my friends and family and lurkers too..... you can leave a comment, that you stopped by ****

I love snowmen!

A few versions of my favorite snowmen for the holidays. The one's with the dog are supposed to be my cartoon character for Cooper!

The beJolly stamp is TAC. I cased the Happy Holiday circle from SU.... it's created on the computer. I love the purple and green together, very unexpected

Off to make more Creative Greetings!!

Fun is just a point of view!

Looks like all these posts are in a purple theme! It's amazing when you look through old magazines and see cards that you get an instant feel for creating. The SNOW one was actually a summer party card sample. I liked how the eyelets were placed. And love the snowmen!

I like scraplifting the SU sea scenes. This fish is intense with the scales and bubbles, but he is so cute! Inside it reads 'happy birthday fishes!" get it? instead of wishes??? hee hee! Enjoy the day!