I started doodling not that long ago, and I'm enjoying it more and more all the time.  It's sooooo relaxing and just plain fun!  I'm really NOT an artist when it comes to drawing, but I've been watching a LOT of people who doodle on YouTube and I've learned quite a bit from them.  

So, if you haven't tried doodling yet, I would suggest you try it for a while and see if it's for you!

I've been busy making some cards and trying a LOT of new techniques.  I started doodling a couple of years or so ago, but never really did much with what I'd done until recently.  I've turned some of my doodles into cards and it's been a LOT of fun.  I've also made some cards with the Elizabeth Craft Designs Peel-Off Stickers, and incorporated my doodles into them, and I like the results of that.  If you scroll down you'll see my many new creations.

Here are a couple of cards that I made with the free background.  On this particular card I did the Woven Ribbon Technique.  For the leaves on the flowers I hand cut a leaf shape and then folded it in half lengthwise and then put it through a crimper and that's what gave them their shape.












Here's the web site where I learned how to do the ribbon weaving:

http://forscrappingoutloud.blogspot.com/2010/08/woven-flower-tutorial.html

FREEBIE

Just thought I'd try something a little funky and I like the way it turned out on my card.  Quite simple, but cute.  Hope you all enjoy it.

Here's another little doodle I did.  It's been fun just goofing off with doodling and making cards out of them.
I added Wink of Stella to the sun and the sun rays and added some little googly eyes.

And another doodle I did.  I added a flower to this one with a red brad in the center.  Also added a little red in the image to tie in the red brad in the center of the flower.

Again, another doodle I did.  Only this time I added red Stickles to the flower and on the image itself also.

This was one of my very first doodles I did.  The area with the green leaves is just DP.  The middle section is my doodle.

I really like the way this card turned out!  The background of this (the rainbow and clouds) is some paper I purchased in an office store years ago.  The birds and the flowers were done with the Elizabeth Craft Designs Peel-Off Stickers.  It is quite a process and if you go to her site, she teaches you how to do it...pretty easy and really fun!  The doodles were done by me.  :)
Here's a link to one of her videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRwtOWwrn_E
You can use pretty much any micro fine glitter.  Ultra fine glitter works well also.  I used ultra fine glitter on mine.

FREEBIES

Hi...it's been quite a few months since I've posted.  I had quite a bout with surgery, cancer, infection, chemotherapy, and some other personal problems as well.  But...I'M BACK...and hopefully for a longggggg time to come!  I still have neuropathy in my hands and feet and I'm a little limited with my hands, but even they are doing a little better. Over all, I still have a ways to go to get back to where I was, but things are looking up!  

I want to say thank you for all the prayers and well wishes that were posted here for me.

Thought I'd post a couple of freebies here for all of you since it's been so long since I've posted at all.

Hope you all have a very HAPPY Valentine's Day!

Also, here's one for a boy/man.

God Bless!

EMERGENCY ROOM, SURGERY, CHEMO, AND A FREEBIE!

Hi to my family and friends,

Just a note to let you all know why I haven't posted anything for a while.  Well, back in March I had a very serious health issue.  I suddenly started cramping and bleeding (hemorrhaging actually) and had to call an ambulance.  The initial exam that I had showed pre-cancer in the uterus.  On May 6th I had what was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour surgery that turned into a 6 1/2 hour surgery for a complete hysterectomy.  My main concern going into the surgery was waking up in AWFUL pain like I did after my children were born.  My surgeon assured me that that would not happen.  I woke up and the whole time from the surgery through recovery my pain level was never above a 4.  The surgery went very well and I had an awesome OB GYN surgeon ...a sweet, sweet doctor that I really like, Dr. Sadighi from Kaiser in Antioch.  The reason it took so long was a result of having two caesareans in the early 1970's and there was a LOT of scar tissue.  The surgery was done laparoscopically so the doctor didn't have to cut me completely open.  I am so glad she took her time and was able to do the surgery this way.  Well, the lab tests came back and the result was uterine cancer and one microscopic cancer cell in the first of 10 lymph nodes that they took out.  As a result, I am now on chemotherapy.  I had my first chemo on Monday July 7th.  After my treatment I felt a little tired and weak, but not too bad really.  I woke up today feeling like normal and very pleased with that.  

I have had a LOT of support from my family and friends.  My oldest son, Todd and his fiancee, Megan, came down from Oregon as soon as they heard that I would need surgery and stayed with me for nine days and totally took EXCELLENT care of me.  When I came out of surgery my head was hurting sooooo bad from the hard pillow in the hospital and Todd and Megan went all the way back to my house and got me my really soft pillow for my head.  (They actually brought three pillows because he wasn't sure which one I meant!)  I was in Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek and I live in Brentwood, about a 45 minute drive each way.  Wow!  It meant sooooo much that he would do that for me!  Todd's two youngest children were here with me too and were a big help for me too...they're AWESOME grandchildren!!!

My youngest son, Corey and his wife Amanda and their children, were all sick right before my surgery, so they were not able to be with me physically before, during, or after my surgery.  Also, they had a cruise planned about 2-3 days after my surgery, and I told them not to cancel it.  The money wasn't refundable anyway and besides it was a vacation that they really needed to go on.  They hadn't been away on a nice vacation since before their 9 year old son was born.  After they got home they came over and spent the day with me and brought me a wonderful dinner.  They called me whenever they could while on their cruise to check up on me and make sure I was doing well.  Also, Corey has his work schedule planned so he can be with me for every chemo treatment.  Am I blessed, or what?  I have some pretty awesome sons and I thank God every day for them.  Knowing my children are always there for me during hard times is such a wonderful feeling and a huge blessing.  I am overwhelmed!!!

My awesome brother, Ron, has been here for me also.  He too is going to all my chemotherapy treatments and took me to one of my doctor appointments.  He brought Linda and I lunch one day, took us out to lunch another day, and brought me soup, fruit, and some awesome dark chocolate peanut butter cups!!!   I had an awesome nurse, Cathy, who took care of me during chemo.  We were all being goofy and had her in stitches laughing.  I asked if I could put my order in to have her for my nurse from now on, but she said no.  All the nurses there take turns so they can all take turns with the good patients.  But she did say she had a really fun time with us!!!

I also have some awesome friends.  When my neighbor/friend, Shirley, found out I was in the emergency room, she came right over to the hospital and stayed with me until about four in the morning and then drove me home.  She also brought me flowers and dropped off fruit to me a couple of times.  My friend Phyllis took me the 2nd time and stayed with me for a long time also.  And then Shirley took me the third time and stayed with me again.  My doctor said that she didn't want me to be alone at all from the time I had my surgery until after my post-op appointment which was a month later.  I wasn't allowed to cook, clean, do dishes, no bending, or anything else except take care of myself and take it easy.   After Todd went back to Oregon my friend Sue came over for a day and a night to stay until my best friend Linda got here.  Sue had actually planned on being here for a few days/nights, but after my surgery Todd decided to stay longer.  Also, Sue's daughter whom I don't even know that well volunteered to take me to my first oncology appointment after my surgery.  WOW!!!  She is a really sweet lady and, like her Mom, is always willing to help wherever she can.  Linda came down on the train from Redding, Ca which is a four hour drive by car.  Linda stayed with me for three weeks and five days!!!  I was sooooo blessed to have her here.  She helped me out sooooo much with cooking, cleaning, laundry, driving me around, etc. My neighbor/friend Caroleene brought breakfast and dinner, flowers, etc.  My friend Phyllis was here on the weekends when she could be and also helped me out sooooo much bringing dinner and doing cleaning and laundry.  And all of them prayed for me!!!  My church was also very supportive: Pastor Chantelle came to the hospital to pray with me and my family.  She also made a trip to the train station to pick up Linda.  Pastor Chantelle and our secretary, Janet, made many phone calls to make sure I was alright, and many, many prayers were said by the Pastor and the board.  Another friend, Beth, came over this past Wednesday and took me out to lunch as she has an elderly mother she is taking care of and couldn't get over here sooner.  Another friend, Pat and her husband Ken, told me to call them before EVERY cancer treatment so they can be praying for me night and day.  And I also have the prayers and support of many, many other people across the nation.  My sister Ginny whom I love very much...and her friends in New York , my friends Mila and Mike (Mike is a Southern Baptist Minister).  I met Mila online almost 15 years ago, visited her once in Wyoming.  They are AWESOME friends and I wish we didn't live so dang far apart!!!   My son posted my situation on Facebook and tons of his friends from all over the U.S.A. are praying for me.  WOW!!! I am completely overwhelmed at all the support I've had.  Even today a friend is with me for three days.  I went to a chemotherapy class and they suggested that someone be here for three days after each of the chemo treatments as that was the time I would most likely not feel well and would have a hard time cooking, etc.  So, my friends have all set up a schedule to be here for the three days following each chemo treatment.  My son Corey also said that he would be here anytime I need him, even if it's in the middle of the night!!!
My family prayed, my friends prayed, my church prayed, and I prayed...that this would not be cancer and that it would not be in my lymph nodes, and that I wouldn't have to go through all this.  Well, sometimes we don't understand exactly why God allows things like this to happen to us.  But, I do believe that there is a reason behind it and that it's all in His plan, and that one day I will understand the reason why.  When I first learned I would have to have chemotherapy I was pretty upset, but as time when on I've learned to accept it, and now I am actually thanking God for it.  One of the oncologists I saw said that my chances were very good of the cancer not returning after the chemotherapy treatments.  

Through all this I've often thought of Job in the Bible and all that he went through.  God was with him just as I know He is with me.  If you are going through a hard time in YOUR life, I would suggest reading the book of Job.  You will really see How God was always with Job and how He will always be with you too!  I don't blame God for this.  I blame the world we live in...disease is in the world and it has no favorites!  Without my faith in God and all the support I've had this would be an almost insurmountable task.

Right around the time all this started God gave me this beautiful Christian song called "Oceans" by Hillsong.  If you haven't heard it, look it up on You Tube.  You will LOVE it!!!  It has helped to sustain me.  I love to sing (although I can't very well...but God only requires us to "make a joyful noise...and I HOPE mine is joyful...I'm sure it is to Him...) and God has often given me just the perfect song at times when I have gone through different phases of my life...whether good or bad.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to all my family, friends, and church, who have been with me through this whole ordeal.  I KNOW I could not have done it without you.  You are all AWESOME and I know God has placed each one of you in my life for such a time as this!!!  God is good...all the time!!!

Oh, about the freebie:  this is the first drawing I've done on the computer!  I hope you all enjoy it!

P. S. If you're a Christian believer, please say some prayers for me.

God Bless you all!!!  

Cindy  :)

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

FREEBIE

Here's a little Thanks freebie for you.

I hope you enjoy it!  :)

Also SCROLL DOWN for an AWESOME flower technique and an acetate butterfly technique.

AMAZING FLOWER TECHNIQUE!!!

I found a new technique for making flowers and buttons and I absolutely ~L~O~V~E~ them!!! 
This is my FIRST flower and my FIRST button. 
I cut the flowers out of an old Precious Moments magazine that I had.   If you want to mail your flower on a card then I'd use heavier paper, but this worked pretty well and I will save the card for someone that I don't have to mail it to.  If I'm giving a gift to someone then I usually just stick my card in the bag and omit an envelope.  I figure they're going to throw the envelope away anyway, so why waste one.  
I just happened to have some background paper that matched the flower (I didn't plan it this way.) and I colored the button to match.  I also outlined the flowers on the background paper in black so as to match the flower a little better.  The background paper was in a 12 x 12 pack from Michaels.  I'm sorry, but I don't keep the names of all my papers...I'd have to have another file just for that!

HAND MADE BUTTON TECHNIQUE:
After making the flower, I thought I'd attempt to make a home-made button.  I was very pleasantly pleased with how it turned out and now I am VERY EXCITED because now I can always have a button that matches anything I want to put one on.  (P. S. These are made out of cardboard, so you cannot put them on your clothes.  LOL!)
I hand cut the leaves, inked the edges with black ink and then ran them through my crimper, and then added them to the flower.  (Once I hand cut a leaf I am pleased with I save it and use it as a template for the next time.  You can make many leaf templates and have them on hand for future use.)
This was sooooo much fun and I hope you all give it a try!
I found the idea on a web site called Jennibellie Studio and here is the address where you'll find how to make the flowers and the buttons:
http://jennibelliestudio.blogspot.com/2012/10/recycled-flower-tutorial.html

Another card with the same flower technique.  Only problem with this one is I made the flower too big, so if you try this, be careful how big you cut your flower...but, it does take a little practice.

ACETATE BUTTERFLIES (Scroll down further to this same card for instructions.)

This card was pretty easy and I made an acrylic butterfly for it. 

You can find instructions as to how to make these butterflies if you scroll further down in my blog.

The little "Happy" embellishment came with the paper pack that I used for the background.  I added a little bling to give it some pizzazz.

All the acetate packaging that you get from your Spellbinder's dies, etc., can now be put to wonderful use!