What's black and white and red all over?

That was a popular riddle when I was a young girl.  The answer was either an embarrassed zebra or a newspaper (read all over).  I took a card I found on Pinterest that was black and white with some red accents and made a bunch of anniversary and birthday cards this evening.  Thus, the riddle came to mind :-) 

These are Anniversary cards. I stamped a sentiment inside - Happy Anniversary and many more!  The designer series paper is Basic Black and Very Vanilla.  I added some red glitter paper and Cherry Cobbler seam binding.   I love the color combination.

These cards are very similar to the other except using different DSP.  The card on the right has Very Vanilla seam binding. 

And these stars are for birthday cards.   I layered a red glitter star on the basic black large star,  

We have also added a new family member - Shadow

He is 4 months old. My daughter picked him out at the Humane Society.  He is a very frisky but lovable kitten.  

Snow Buddies cards

Running short on birthday and anniversary cards since I have not been spending much time in the 'craft room'.  It is also serving as my home office so I am spending lots of time in the room, just not crafting.

These cards use the Snow Buddies set from several years ago.  Still one of my favorites.

Aren't the snowmen cute with the birthday balloons?  They are ready to party!!! We haven't had any snow but that doesn't mean I can't build some snowmen.  I prefer these anyway - can stay inside, warm and dry and they don't melt.

These fine couples are ready to celebrate some anniversaries. I am always running out of anniversary cards.

We still have one Christmas party - we are hosting my family tomorrow.  My siblings, their childrena and grandchildren. One of the highlights will be the annual Christmas ornament.  My sisters and I (sometimes we include a niece or two) make ornaments for everyone each year.  This tradition started in 1977 and we treasure the ornaments as well as the time we spend together planning and creating.   I can't post photos yet - don't want anyone to see them before tomorrow - but this year's are very special.  You'll just have to check in after tomorrow to see them :-)

12 Days of Charity - Day 12

This post will be for two charities - but they are very similar.  They are very dear to my heart.  Quilts for Older Children and Adults and Love Quilts.   I started stitching squares for Love Quilts in 2005. I loved picking designs and stitching them for a child who was critically ill.  It was hard to limit which children I stitched for so I stitched for all I could.  One year I stitched over 100 squares for charity quilts.  A similar group was started by my friend, Jeneen.  Quilts for Older Children and Adults donates quilts to children and adults who would be too old for Love Quilts.  What a blessing to be able to share my love for counted cross-stitch with other stitchers in such a worthy cause.

I orchestrated a few quilts through a Yahoo group for a few years.  Those were some of the most rewarding ones.  One was for a friend's granddaughter. 

One was for a child that I learned of through our church missionaries and we also made one for her sister.  I actually sewed the quilt for the sister. (Not a professional job but I'm sure she loved it none the less.)

And another for my sister who was battling breast cancer. 

I am so proud of each quilt I have been a part of and have prayed over the recipient while stitching, rejoiced when pictures were posted of the recipient smiling with their quilt and grieved when news was received that a recipient had died.  

For the last few years I have not been cross-stitching much because my left hand cramps up when holding the fabric.   Recently I started again.  I just can't do it for long intervals but still am able to meet the deadlines.  Here are the squares I have done this year. 

Love Quilts - for Junior T - Dalmatian

Quilts for Older Children and Adults - Disney theme - Lion King

And a card for today -

12 Days of Charity - Day 11

I just learned about Midtown Moms this month.  One of the moms was a volunteer at Affordable Christmas and she was telling me all about their ministry.   You can check them out on Facebook - Midtown Moms.

Just this past weekend they posted an emergency request from a mom who could not afford Christmas presents for her children.   Midtown Moms posted the request and immediately 2 followers had offered to help her out.  It's good to see such generosity.

Not only do they distribute toys at Christmas, they also do birthdays for the children.  They provide a gift and cake/cupcakes.  It's sad to think that someone cannot afford a cake for their child's birthday.

The card today is another of the shoebox cards.  This was designed by my niece. It is an interesting way to use the hexagon punch.  I love the embossed dots in the background.  Looks like snow falling.

12 Days of Charity - Day 10

Our church has packed shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse for several  years now.   Members donate supplies and the children 'shop' to fill the shoeboxes.  It is great to see the kids thinking of someone else during the holidays.

If you would like to donate a shoebox, you can pack your own and send it or you can pack one online.  How neat is that!  You choose the gender, age range and then pick some essentials (paper, pencils, etc) and one large toy, 2 medium toys and 3 small toys.  All for $25.00.

The card for today is another one from our shoebox club  - this one designed by my sister (enabler). Stampin Up has many coordinated stamp sets and punches that make it quick and easy to make an impressive card.  

Notice the tree stamped on the envelope.   The little touches make a big difference in a handmade card. 

12 Days of Charity - Day 9

My daughter's love for crochet and heart for the homeless brought me to my 5th charity.  She has made several crocheted scarves and wanted to donate them somewhere so after searching the internet for charities that could use them, I found several but nothing that was local.  Many of them also had strict requirements on type of yarn, colors and dimensions which did not match what she had available.  So, I decided to do my own search - on Facebook.  I posted the question "Where can we donate crocheted scarves?" and got 2 responses almost immediately.  One was from a friend who works in a local bank and they collect coats for children every year and would gladly take scarves, hats and gloves/mittens too.   The other was from a friend whose church has a homeless ministry and they would hand them out.  My daughter chose the church ministry among the homeless and as it turns out is it the same church her aunt and uncle attend.  So she has a means to get them to the church as well.

She has these scarves to donate

and I had one hat I made that was too large to donate for a newborn that we are putting in the box with the scarves.   My daughter plans to continue making scarves throughout the year and donating them in the fall.

The card for today features my wish for all the homeless - a warm home in the cold and snow.

The snow on the sentiment is a new technique I found a couple months ago.  The house is from a sheet of retired DSP that had 16 different design on that sheet. Cute, isn't it?  I think before I use this card I will take a glitter pen and highlight the snow on the roof of the house.

12 Days of Charity - Day 8

Affordable Christmas has got to be my favorite volunteer opportunity of the year.  Trailhead Church has been supporting this ministry for several years.  Last year they asked about using our educational wing since they had outgrown their other resources.

Families are screened and given appts to come shop for Christmas presents for their children.  Gifts are priced to be about 10 cents on the dollar.  Donations of money and/or gifts make this all possible.  And they don't just provide Christmas gifts -

there is makeup and hair for the women, little ones too.  Each family has a photo shoot and gets an 8 x 10 to take home with them at the end of their shopping.

 There are lots of frames to choose from. All hand made - and beautifully done!

While mom and dad are shopping (or working as a volunteer) - the children spend time with crafts, Bible stories and breakfast foods.

There are so many things to choose from in the shopping area.  Tables and tables and tables full of new toys,

 games, (love the penguin!)

and sports equipment.  

After the parents make their purchases, the gifts are all wrapped and bagged up for them to take home.

While the gifts are being wrapped, the parents are treated to a breakfast/brunch.  This year a local restaurant owner provided a French toast bar.  The French toast was amazing - especially with the orange marmalade sauce (the volunteers are fed well too).  

This is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.   I am so proud to be a part of this ministry and pray to be able to continue to help out for many years to come.  

My card for today -

starburst of Joy.  The Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green again - but this time with Very Vanilla.  The starburst is done using a 'mask'.