Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of family, fun, and football!

Daily Quote from RealSimple.com:
"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. "
— G.K. Chesterton

Up to the "Challenge"

Elzybell has the cutest stamps! I used these 2 for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #28.

Here the recipe so you can cook up your own:

Stamps: Elzybell Peace, Dream & Wishes/Angels on High

Paper: pomegranate, always artichoke, Dashing dp

Ink: black stazon, basic black

Accessories: silver Painty, Diamond Stickles, pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon

This is a Tea Bag Holder I did for the New Technique Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. The girls will be giving these to their teachers.

Here the Recipe:

Stamp: Ellzybell Mouse Bauble

Paper: whisper white, ruby red, real red, old olive

Ink: old olive, real red, close to cocoa, gold Painty, creamy caramel, cameo coral

Technique: tea bag holder

The Latest on Nick...

Thank you all so much for your prayers and concern. Nick was in rehab less than a week. To say we're disappointed is a major understatement. He has no use of his right arm. There is talk of surgery, but later. Not sure why "later", but at least there is talk.

Now that he's home, grandparents are taking turns staying at the house with him. Remember, his Mom died from lung cancer last Thankskgiving, so Chris has to work. Anyway, they have to stay with him because apparently his judgement is not very well due to his head trauma. I have no idea what this means for his ability to graduate HS this year. He also had a promising catering business that was doing extremely well.

SO.......that's all I know today. We thank you all for your continued prayers. Have a happy turkey day and remember to give thanks for all you have. Hug someone you haven't hugged in awhile -- you know, that impossible in-law, meddling aunt, obnoxious cousin who loves to remind you of that embarrasing time when...... Well I'm sure you get the idea. I know we're thankful that Nick is still with us.

A Promise is a promise...

Don't you just love Horton? I have a love of elephants anyway and was taught that integrity and character really matter. So Horton Hears a Who! is probably my favorite Dr. Seuss book.

As I promised, here is my latest attempt at "art":

This first one is for a new technique challenge at Splitcoast. The challenge was to try "Japanese Stab Binding" It sounds dangerous, but it's really not. Actually it's quite simple!

The second one is for today's color combo challenge at Splitcoast. Colors to use are Kraft and Pomegranate, with an optional neutral. I like this combo so much I made 13 of these puppies! I just wish I could make better bows. I guess I need to review this video by Kristina Werner. She has a really fabulous blog. In fact, my blog wants to be just like her blog when it grows up!

AWOS

I've been AWOS (absent without stamping)! Things have been crazy the past week. I didn't even have time to stamp over the weekend. Hubby was out of town, Sarah had her last soccer game of the season followed by the eos party, Dana had her District Championships for gymnastics up in Austin. It's the first meet I've ever missed in her 7 yrs of competing. She did pretty well!

Next up:

• Sarah's playing in a soccer tournament next weekend: 2 games Saturday, 1 on Sunday
• Dana's getting ready for her State Competition mid-December

I promise to get some more "art" posted soon! In the meantime, here's today's daily quote from RealSimple.com:

"Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it. "
— Jacques Prévert

Update on Nick

Hello y'all! Just wanted you to know Nick is being transferred to a rehab facility today. They'll provide psychological counseling to help deal with the loss of his 4 friends. Also some physical therapy for his right arm. Although they aren't very confident he'll ever have much use of it again.

We appreciate your continued prayers for his recovery and for the families who lost their children.

Update on Nick

The latest from my parents who drove down to see him is not great. He's not able to move his right arm. We are hoping it's due to his broken shoulder blade and nothing permanent. He was told late this afternoon about his friends that died - of course he did not take it well. Also, he looks about as bad as you'd imagine. Still no word on when they'll move him or send him home. I'll keep ya'll posted ~ thank you for your coninued prayers.

Prayers Please

Today I'm sending out a prayer request.

My nephew, age 17, was in a terrible auto accident this past Saturday night. He was with 5 other friends, all seniors in high school. Three, including the driver, were pronounced dead at the scene, one died later at the hospital. Another boy and my nephew are in the hospital. My nephew has a punctured lung, broken ribs, 2 broken cheek bones, and a broken shoulder blade.

I ask that you pray for the families who have lost their children. And please pray for healing for my nephew and his friend. This will be a long hard recovery for all involved.


Daily Thought from RealSimple.com: "Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers." -- Alfred Lord Tennyson

Playing with chalk...

These card were made for the "Ways to Use It" challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.

The challenge is to use chalks, but not pastels - chalk ink. Luckily I've had some ColorBox chalk inks tucked away. I've never used it for stamping, just to color an embellishment.
Here are those Recipes:
Stamps: Eat Cake
Ink: Yellow Ochre, Dark Moss, Charcoal, Warm Violet (Colorbox)
Papers: whisper white, old olive, pink passion
Acccessories: tab punch, grosgrain in Rose & Spring Moss

Stamps: Linen (background), Stem Silhouettes
Ink: Yellow Ochre, Dark Moss
Papers: Naturals Ivory
Accessories: scallop punch, grosgrain in Spring Moss


Daily Thought from RealSimple.com: "Three things in life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind." -- Henry James