In Loving Memory my Hero, my Dad John M. Garcia Jr.

Old soldiers never die, they just fade away and one dear soldier just left us. - General Douglas MacArthur

In Loving Memory My Hero, My Dad

My Dad suddenly passed away early November at the age of 92 years young. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Margarita Garcia of 64 years of marriage ... amazing. Dad was a Sgt. for the Army Air Forces in WWII for four years. I'm so proud of him of his service to our country and always being there for me and my family.

I Miss you.
I cannot believe you are gone
My life doesn’t feel the same
I love you Dad, your daughter, Marian.
Don't forget to smile.

THANK YOU all for your words of encouragement. He will most definitely be missed.

Hocus pocus … My new blog, with an exquisite new make-over!

A big thank you to Veronica McCollum of VKdesignCo., who with her magic wand, dazzled me with a top-shelf blog! If you are ever in need of a wonderful graphic designer, Veronica is fun, stylish, and makes magic happen! She listened to what I wanted and together this is what we created. It has always been my dream to have an art design studio overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and now I do! My favorite interests of scrapbooking and card designing have magically been incorporated into my banner, showing not only my personal interests, reflecting who I am.

Enjoy!

TRICK or TREAT, smell my feet, give me something good to eat! ... WITH wigGle EYeS

TRICK or TREAT, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

A little of this and a little of that. I luv the cute little wiggle eyes too.

I wasn't crazy about this Haunting jumbo wheel at first until I saw what Michelle Zindorf created with hers. Michelle has inspired me so MUCH I'm CASing her card just a bit, by the colors and a few tweaks (above check out the wiggle eyes on mine). I'd took her design class a year ago last summer with NO regrets. She has a great blog and fantastic tutorials too! She may be coming to a neighborhood near you.
Stamp Recipe: SU Haunting jumbo wheel, House of Haunts, Autumn Apparition-retiredPaper: SU WW, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango
Ink: SU Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzelberry, Basic Black for sponging on edges
Accessories: Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon, 1", 1-3/8", 2.5" round punches, Uni-bal gel pen, Post It Note for moon mask, cording, wiggle eyes, brayer
Technique: Brayer sky, sponging and masking

Enjoy!

For You Circle Circus / SSSC#37

This is my Circle Circus creation for Karen Giron’s Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #37 at her blog: the sweetest thing: http://kgiron.blogspot.com

Stamp Recipe: SU Circle Circus, Great Friend
Paper: SU Whisper White, Rich Razzelberry, Crushed Curry, Old Olive
Ink: SU Rich Razzelberry, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Craft White
Accessories: SU 1” Circle punch, Crushed Curry and Rich Razzelberry Polka Dot ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot folder

Enjoy! Marian

ALL HALLOW'S EVE/SSSC#36

My SCS Gallery

This is my All Hallow’s Eve creation for Karen Giron’s Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #36 at her blog: the sweetest thing. **Inspired by the one and only Artist Michelle Zindorf**

Using the Zindorf brayering technique for the sky, background and masking the moon with a 1-3/8" punch.

Stamp Recipe: SU Autumn Apparitions, Web Wishes, Inkadinkado All Hollow’s Eve

Paper: SU Whisper White, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzelberry, Crushed Curry

Ink: Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzelberry (brayering order), Basic Black

Accessories: Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen, Brayer, 1-3/8”, 1” Circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, Square punch, Crushed Curry Polka Dot ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, misc star punch

Technique: Brayer, masking-sky

Happy Halloween!

Cheers to You Warm Wishes SSSC#33, RSCC#16

Here is my take on this week's Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge #33 and Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #16, at her My Favorite Things blog. Looking forward to a cozy Fall season.

Yes, I'd used my old pair of pinking shears on top and they brought me back down memory lane to my 7th grade sewing class ... Oh, what a flashback.

Yes, two challenges are better than one!

My SCS Gallery

Stamp recipe: PTI Polka Dot Basics, Snowfall, Warm Happiness
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream, SU Kraft, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard
Ink: SU More Mustard, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Circle and scallop round punch, PTI vintage cream buttons and twine, misc cream lace, pinking shears (brought me back to 7th grade), dimensionals

Enjoy!
Marian

Kind and Caring Thoughts - RSCC#15

It's hard to see my Melon color (Cameo Coral) ... but it's there.

This is my Kind and Caring Thoughts (SU Hostess set level three) creation for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #15, at her My Favorite Things blog.

Inspired by my Upline Brenda Keenan on her beautiful card (SCS) and also I'm excited to say she was selected SU 2009 Top 100 Demonstrators-Founders Circle ... Congrats Brenda!

Stamp Recipe: Kind and Caring Thoughts (SU Hostess Level 3) and Cornish Heritage Farms Fine Gingham backgrounder

Ink: SU Cameo Coral and Regal Rose

Paper: Cameo Coral. Regal Rose, Certainly Celery and PTI Vintage Cream

Accessories: Grosgrain Regal Rose ribbon, Scallop Edge punch and Martha Stewart adhesive pearls

Enjoy! Marian

Stop and Smell the Roses - SSSC#30

Stop and Smell the Roses I'm back for another round with my Roses In Winter creation for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #30 at her The Sweetest Thing blog. Wow, I'd missed six weeks of challenges, how time flies by when your not working. Here is my last submission SSSC#24.



Stamp Recipe: SU Roses in Winter-retired, Kind and Caring Thoughts Level 3 Hostess, Cornish Heritage Farms-Fine Gingham BG
Paper: SU Real Red, In colors: Melon Mambo Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi-DSP
Ink: Real Red, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: PTI Green Leaf Vintage button collection, Sizzlits Little Leaves, dimensionals
Technique: 2-Step, Rock 'n Roll

Enjoy!
Marian

Mail Box Greetings, Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #13

This is my Mailbox Greetings (PTI) creation for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #13, at her My Favorite Things blog. The colors in her photo below mine are Moss, Berry, Red and White. I'd used the Stampin' Up! colors: Certainly Celery, Real Red, Cameo Coral and Whisper White. Check out my Splitcoast Stampers Gallery too!




Stamp Recipe: Papertrey Ink-Mailbox Greetings & Polka Dot Basics-envelope
Paper: SU Certainly Celery, Real Red, Cameo Coral and Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Satin white and red gingham ribbon, crystal effects over the hearts, oval scallop punch, square punch, dimensionals.

Enjoy!
Marian

Eastern Blooms for You, Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12

This is my Eastern Blooms creation for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12, at her My Favorite Things blog. The colors that go with her plant photo below are Celery, Bright Pink, Deep Red & Cream. I'd used the Stampin' Up! colors, Certainly Celery, Melon Mambo (new In Color), Bravo Burgandy & Vintage Cream by Papertrey Ink. Check out my Splitcoast Stampers Gallery too!

a close up

Stamp Recipe: Eastern Blooms, Great Friend
Paper: Vintage Cream by Papertrey Ink, SU Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, small oval punch, cording, dimensionals, Papertrey Ink Vintage cream button twine & cream buttons ... luv these!

Enjoy!
Marian