Hi Everyone . . . I want to tell y’all about my participating in an ATC swap! This is the very first time I not only joined a swap but the first time I made any Artist Trading Cards. For those who don’t know, Artist Trading Cards (ATC’s) are like mini tags with very specific rules.  The cards have to be 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ and only 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick (limits the height of your emblishments-LOL) and the artist signature must appear on the back of the card. . . after that anything goes!

This all came about when one day I was looking at the entries on the PITA facebook page and Vicky Nash commented that she would like to participate in either an ATC swap or album swap and she was welling to act as hostess.  Well things took off fast from there and before you knew it there were 12 people who signed up for the ATC swap (it was limited to 12 because one of the participates bought a wooden ATC display tray and there were only 12 spots for cards-LOL). 

I made my 12 identical cards and sent them off to Canada (where Vicky lives). Oh, did I forget to mention this swap was international. Cards were not only coming from the United States, but from Canada and Europe. Well LOOK at what the mailman delivered yesterday . . . 

I am afraid that my old camera does not do justice to these beautiful cards. They are absolutely stunning!!! This is a very talented group of ladies and I will treasure these cards always. Vicky made this such a wonderful experience that I am looking forward to participating in many more ATC swaps.

Well, that’s all for now . . . thanks for stopping by and until next time . . . Hugs & Kisses – LindaB

During the month of March I received two gifts from some very special people in my life. . . the first gift  was from my very multi talented friend, Diana Higgins (I did an earlier posting about her being published  in Somerset Life). . . she gifted me with this beautiful black scarf which she hand knitted . . . 

I am afraid that this picture does not show the beautiful twisting ruffle of this scarf nor all of the black crystals that Diana sewed at each end of the scarf . . . I don’t know how she knew that the weather was going to change from  an extremely warm spring to a windy, rainy, cold spring but her timing was perfect . . . thank you again Diana for this wonderful gift-YOU ROCK!!! . . . 

The other person who gifted me was my son, Jerry . . . he gave me this . . . 

That’s right, he gave me his Apple lap top!  Actually he got a new one and asked if I wanted his old one (this old one is only 2-1/2 years old – LOL) . . . his timing on this gift was perfect as we got a recall letter from Apple regarding the hard drive on our big MAC and had to take it in to get a new hard drive (at Apple’s expense) . . . this is when my hubby and I found out that we cannot function without a computer — so thank you Son!!!

I feel blessed to not only have a wonderful family but to also have very loving and caring friends.  Well, that’s all for tonight . . . thanks for stopping by and until next time . . .
Hugs & Kisses – LindaB

Hi Everyone . . . I cannot believe that another month has flown by . . . I mean really, where did all the time go for the month of March . . . I felt like I got nothing accomplished, that is until I looked at my calendar — LOL I was busy . . . that being said I decided that I would share a little bit of what took place during my life in the month of March . . . soooooooooo grab something to drink – go potty because this is going to be a loooooooong one . . . 

It all began on Thursday, February 28th . . . we were at the Tank watching the San Jose Sharks vs Detroit Red Wings hockey game . . . 

And while hubby and I were done in San Jose, I was able to take a live class being taught by the  talented Stephanie Ackerman at Scrapbook Island on Saturday, March 2nd . . . her class was called “52 Card Pick Up” . . . Stephanie also offers this class on-line and you can check it out here . . . 

Now you may think that I would have a quite Saturday evening, LOL, but nooooooo . . . because the majority of our family is down in the bay area I contacted everyone before we left Oroville and we celebrated my hubby’s 65th birthday a few days early (his b-day is March 7th) . . . our son hosted a family BBQ at his home . . .

We now leave the bay area with the promise to return soon (which turned out to be sooner than we thought-LOL) and have a few quite days at home . . . the reason it’s quite is because I have to renew my Notary so I am studying (cramming) for the Notary Public exam I have to take on Friday in Rocklin (1-1/2 hours away).  It met spending Thursday night in Rocklin as I had to be at the seminar at 7:15am  (BTW I just got notice this past week that I passed the test with a 96-YAHOO!!!) . . . 

During the next week I began working on a new project . . . I had decided to participate in an ATC swap with 11 other women . . . we are from all over the world and we know each other only on-line though Kathy Orta’s site, Paper Phenomenon . . . this is my very first ATC swap and I had to get 12 ATC’s done and in the mail to Canada by March 20th . . . right now I will only show you the back of the cards I made for everyone — I don’t want to spoil the surprise for any of the other swappers . . .

Moving right along, on Saturday, March 16th I spent the evening at one of my LSS, Paradise Scrapbook Boutique celebrating St. Paddy’s day with a few of my wild & crazy friends . . . 

Next up, it is time for the annual egg dying party with my granddaughter and friends . . . 

LOL – I don’t know which stains my hands more, dying eggs or using Tim Holtz products.  The egg dying always starts out nicely but soon gets out of control – hmmmmmmm same thing happens when I use TH and Dylusion products – LOL . . . 

Well, believe it or not we are coming to the end pretty soon . . . just one more thing . . . we found ourselves back down in San Jose for Easter weekend . . . my son’s girlfriend owns a high end consignment shop, It’s A Girl Thing and I make speciality flags for some of her customers, like this one 

Oh and while we were down there we attended another San Jose Sharks game as the guests of It’s A Girl Thing (she had her name advertised on the Jumbo Tron during a game break) . . .

Well, CONGRATULATIONS!!!  You have made it through the longest posting I have ever done . . . now aren’t you glad you went to the potty at the beginning – LOL . . . that’s all for now . . . thanks for stopping by and until next time . . . Hugs & Kisses . . . LindaB