Hope House Home for Boys

The cards that I sell here in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico benefit the dental program for the boys at Hope House in the nearby village of Ixlahuacan. There are close to 30 boys at the home and many of them come to the home having received no dental treatment. If you live here at Lakeside and would like to order a quality, hand crafted card for a special occasion and help me contribute to this worthy cause, please e-mail me at bettyinchapala@yahoo.com Card price is 50 pesos; the entire sales price is donated to Hope House.

Followers -- Some of my favorite people!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Wreath Ornament




I've been working today on making a couple of Christmas cards and finishing up the insides of the cards that I've made this year. I ended up with an empty ribbon spool and decided to try to make a wreath ornament out of it; I think it turned out quite cute.  I'll be entering this in the designer's choice challenge at The House That Stamps Built to make anything but a card.

My poor old blog has been neglected lately. Hopefully, I can get back to a regular posting schedule again!

Later,
Betty

Thursday, October 25, 2012

A Guy Card and a Visit to Jocotopec




The challenge at Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday 192 this week is to make a birthday card. I am still needing masculine birthday cards for the church so this challenge fit right in with my needs. I can't wait to get my new Pine Cone stamp set that I ordered from Flourishes recently -- I think it will make wonderful masculine birthday cards! Until then, this Stampin' Up set is one I use a lot for "guy" cards.

I have a few pictures to share today from our trip to a nearby village, Jocotopec, while my sister was visiting. We walked along the lovely malicon there -- such beautiful views.


Cranes enjoying a rest.......


Barbara and I are enjoying a rest too..........


One of the joys that I've found in living in Mexico is that you never know where you'll find poinsettias growing........


These were found in a boat planted with beautiful greenery!



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Christmas Glitters



I was fooling around today, trying to come up with a technique to teach at our next card making session. Thought I might try cutting the image into three pieces to make a "tile" effect but after putting the glitter on this one, I decided not to cut it apart 'cause I might end up with even MORE glitter all over the place!!!

I think I like the blues and glitter -- I had colored the little bow red on the ornament but decided to paper piece it with the blue paper instead. The ribbon bow was added at the last minute because I dropped the top to the black ink pad and it left a mark right in the top middle of my matted image. Arrrgggh! I think I covered the mess up pretty well, though!

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood -- hope it's the same in yours!
betty

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Antique Car



Recently I had two friends ask me to make a birthday card with an antique car -- I found this free image on the internet and made two cards like this one, only they both didn't say Happy Birthday, Chuck!

We have a friend at church who has a shirt with white, gray, and black stripes. I always think of this patterned paper when he wears it!!!!

Hope you're having a beautiful day!
Betty

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Pretty Peony



I have a birthday card to share today. The colored peony is my favorite image from Beccy's Place and the background paper and banner are from Uniko Studio. I did the birthday sentiment in MS Word, printed and adhered it to the banner from Uniko. Then added some rhinestones to the butterflies.

The flower was printed and cut out with a Spellbinders die and then I traced around the outside of the die on the green paper to make a thinner mat. I like all the different colors -- makes me think of flowers and butterflies in the sunshine!

I'll be entering this card into Beccy's October Challenge which is to make a card with any of her wonderful designs!

Betty

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Thinking of You



My sister from Mississippi has been visiting for the past week so we've been busy going here and there and everywhere! No time to make cards......

Unfortunately, all good visits have to come to and end and we took Barbara to the airport this morning. I saw the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches #57 and totally love this card! Thanks for the sketch, LeAnne -- it is a fabulous one!


If you'd like to play along, get your card done by Monday, October 22, at 12 Noon PDT and upload to the Freshly Made Sketches blogsite. Just click on the link above.

Will be sharing some pictures of our excursions out and about in the Chapala area in the next few days. We saw some very interesting sights!

My daughter posted the following picture of my grandkids on Facebook the other day. Thought I'd share it with you. Ashton is 8 and Brianna is 5, although they have birthdays coming up in November and December.


Adios,
Betty

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Flourishes Release Week



It's release week at Flourishes and the noon challenge today was to make a card with the inside decorated as well as the outside. Last week I embossed this image from Flourishes Calla Lilies  in white on pink. I really loved that look and used it again but added a little color to the flowers, stems and leaves with watercolor crayons and a blender pen. I like the depth that just a little bit of color gave to the image. I already had the bow tied and waiting patiently to be popped onto this card.


For the inside I used another stamp from the same set and added a Happy Birthday tag. This will be one more card for our church.


Betty

Monday, October 8, 2012

A Couple of Cards


I have two cards to share with you this evening that were inspired by the Merry Monday Sketch 36. This first one follows the sketch and will be entered into the challenge at Lesley's blog, Always Playing With Paper.


Here's the sketch.......


That star really caught my eye and inspired the following card,



Thanks, Lesley, for the wonderful sketches you provide each week!
Betty




Favors for Ladies Luncheon



I was busy this past week making favors for our Ladies Luncheon on Thursday of this week. We are having an Accessory Exchange. We will take up to three gently used fashion accessories (purses, belts, jewelry, hats, etc.) that we don't particularly like any more and (hopefully) exchange them for something we'd enjoy wearing. Of course, there's always the chance that the item we like will get stolen away!!!! Thought that the little purses would fit the them of the luncheon very well -- had lot of fun making over 20 of these little guys in assorted patterned papers. I'm in charge of the devotional which will be on the promises of God. The stamp is from a Layers of Color set.

I'll be linking this up over at Word Art Wednesday.

Betty

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Freshly Made Birthday



This is my card for the Freshly Made Sketch Challenge #55. I really let the patterned papers by K & Co. do most of the work; the "grasses" image is from AnnaBelle Stamps and the birthday sentiment from Creative Clear Stamps.



I had plenty of paper left over to make another card this afternoon. Here it is:


Adios,
Betty

Friday, October 5, 2012

Birthday Lilies



This is my card for the Think Pink challenge at Flourishes and I have created it using the sketch challenge from The House That Stamps Built (the Repeat Impressions Stamps blog).


The image stamp is from Calla Lilies by Flourishes, which I stamped in Versamark Ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The sentiment is from Gina K. Designs and is also embossed in white. Patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye and the sentiment was cut out with a Spellbinders die. Pink pearls are from Michael's Recollections line.

Hope you'll be able to join in with these challenges this week!
Betty