Thanksgiving...

is upon us!  I am sooo looking forward to spending the day with family!  Yummy food, lots of laughter...some of the little things that make this time of year special!  Since I haven't had much crafting time lately I don't have any special projects to show you today, so here is a cute pic of one of the chubby little squirrels that live on campus where I work:

I am looking forward to lots more time in my craft room this holiday weekend, since I stay far away from the Black Friday shopping craze!!  And that is one of the little things that keeps me serene for the holidays!  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hugs, Lynda

Pay It Forward Project

Hi Everyone!  Today I am posting a little project that I made using new PTI dies and the white paper bags that I received from Jent in the Pay It Forward thread on SCS.  Here are pictures:

I am really pleased with how this came out...and I am planning to use these for my Christmas goodies this year!  Thanks for stopping by...your visits are one of the little things that bring me joy!

Hugs, Lynda

Pretty New Look!

Hello!  I've been working on a new look for It's the Little Things...and here it is!  I had the sweet, talented Viola Mahr design my new banner and headings - you likey?  I love to follow her blog and her etsy store...such beautiful work!  And, she has designed many of the beautiful banners of the blogs I like to follow, so it made sense to have some of Vio's beautiful art as one of the little things that make my day!  I'd love to have your comments on the new look!

Hugs, Lynda

Papertrey October Blog Hop Challenge

Hello friends!  I have finally had a chance to participate in one of Papertrey Ink's challenges, so without further ado, here is my card for the October challenge found here:

This card uses the 2009 Bitty Dot Basics cut out with a hexagon die cut, with the sentiment from the Gratitude Journal set.  I don't often do clean and simple, but I have always admired those who do!  This design is based on this card by Teri Anderson, a PaperCrafts Magazine Go-To-Girl.  

Thanks for taking time to stop by today!  All comments are welcome!

Show and Tell...

Hello!  Today I would like to share a few pictures of my fur babies - you may remember that Heidi had an injury a few months ago, and this week, she received a clean bill of health!!  Look...

 isn't she a sweetheart?  If you look right between her ears, you can see her sister, Taffy, and Jake, her grumpy brother.  Here are a few pics of them too...

 Mr. Jake...

 and Miss Taffy on the right.

such bundles of love, I tell you!  They make our lives so much richer, between their antics and their cuddles, we enjoy a lot of love and laughter, some of the little things that give us joy!

Now for a few cards ~ October 1st was World Card Making Day, and I was able to squeeze in a few cards, in between working on my new craft room, two of which I will show you here:

 this was made using the Love Lives Here - Holiday stamp set, and

 this card uses the Believe stamp set, both are from Papertrey Ink.  I can't believe holiday season is almost upon us already!!  So many cute choices of stamp sets to use this year...how will I decide?  Oh well, that is one of those little things that makes life interesting!

Fall is in the Air...

Hello Friends!  Since it is now officially the beginning of fall, I thought it might be nice to share the recipe for one of my family's favorite fall treats:  Zucchini Bread!  Try this at home:

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs 2 ¼ cup sugar 3 tsp vanilla 1 cup oil 2 cups grated zucchini 3 cups flour

¼ tsp baking power 1 tsp soda 1 tsp salt 3 tsp cinnamon 1 cup nuts chopped (optional) ½ cup water if needed

Beat eggs until fluffy.  Add sugar, vanilla and oil. Blend in flour, baking powder, soda, spices.  Stir in zucchini and nuts. Bake at 350 until done.

(45 min. to hour)

Makes 2 regular sized loaves or 5-6 mini loaves.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mmmmmm good!  A variation that I've tried is to replace the oil with applesauce...it is a really good bread to make ahead and freeze, as well.  

And that is one of the little things that makes us smile!

Teapot Tuesdays

Hello!  It has been a long time since I have posted or participated in the challenges over at the Splitcoast Stampers website, so after working on my craft room on Saturday (again!), I decided that Sunday would be some creating time.  Here is the card I made for the Teapot Tuesday Challenge at SCS:

and here is the link to the challenge:  Teapot Tuesday Challenge #MMTPT164.  I am hoping that I'll be able to participate more, now that I have my new space!!  Thanks for lookin'!

Hugs, Lynda

Another fun weekend!

Hello again!  Another week has passed, and Sam and I spent the weekend working in my new craft room!  This time, Sam wanted to paint the inside of the closet, because he felt that it needed to be freshened up...and he took up the carpet that was in there and replaced it with the wood-look flooring that we have in the rest of the house!  All I can say is...AM I SPOILED, or what??  Of course, I have not taken pictures yet, since he wants the job to be complete before I show everyone what he has been up to.  AND, he mounted the little towel bars that I hang my collection of punches on - right on the wall in my room...can I say, HAPPY!!??  I am soooo ready to go in there and create!  Hopefully, we will be finished up with this project by next weekend...and then just wait and see the little things that I will create in there!! 

Hugs, Lynda

My New Little Room!!

It is hard to believe that we are in September already!!  As we move toward the fall and the holidays, I am very excited to be able to move into my new craft space!  Sam and I spent the Labor Day weekend doing the painting (Sam) and the IKEA furniture assembly (me), and now I just have to move all my crafting goodies in to their new home.  I will take pictures to share as soon as I get a chance.  The room is a pretty, pale blue and the furniture is white - kinda beachy and serene, and sooo much brighter than my current space!!  Of course, with a new space comes new projects to decorate the walls...a prospect I have a million ideas for.  Nothing like jump-starting your creativity!  Well, that is all for now...a happy little thing that has brought me and Sam a great deal of joy!!  Go find a little thing that makes you happy too!

Hugs, Lynda

Some Thank You Cards...

Did I mention that my birthday was in July?  Well, I want to share some of the thank you cards that I sent to friends and family for the sweet things that they did for me. 

First up, a thank you to my dear sister-in-law for dinner out:

... the inside says "thanks so much".

Next up, a thank you for my best work-buddy, Terri, for the lovely lunch and gift:

Such a sweet and thoughtful friend!


The third thank you is for my long-time friend, Geri, who took me to a beautiful tea house as a surprise lunch:

And there you have it...my thank you cards for those little things that make my life special!  Don't forget to say thanks to someone today for those little things in your life!

Little Heidi Update...

I am happy to report that Heidi is doing well enough to come home today!  Sam picked her up from the hospital this morning, and brought her by my office for a quick visit...got to hold my warm little fur baby...one of those little things that make my day!!

Thank God for the little things...

Well, it has been a busy few days!  On Saturday, Sam was working in our backyard, and the doggies were playing, all was peaceful in our world.  But by Sunday morning, our little Heidi couldn't move her back legs!  We took her to the vet...long story short, she was admitted to the hospital for possible back surgery!
 
Today, however, is another story.  The word from the vet is, no surgery needed!  Heidi's MRI showed an injury, treatable medically, and that she will get to come home in a day or so.  Wow, it is those little things, like our fur baby being on the mend, that really brightens up my day!!  Thank you, God!

My new little Etsy store is open for business!

Now that it is my last day of vacation before going back to work, I managed to photograph some of my new pieces for my Etsy store Clyndago Studio by Clyndago on Etsy.  Here is a preview:

So there you have it!  Please come by and visit my shop for more goodies ~ and thank you for dropping by for a visit!

Hugs,
Lynda

Wow, vacation is almost over...

Well, I can't believe how fast these past two weeks have gone by!!  We returned from our cruise, which was very relaxing, and have been busy since, catching up on things that I don't have time to do while I am at work.  So much for unlimited crafting time!  LOL  Maybe tomorrow...

So, as promised, here are a few pics from our cruise:

Ensenada, Mexico

Our floating hotel, Carnival Paradise

Walking in Ensenada

Lunching downtown

So that is all for tonight...tomorrow I hope to have some pictures ready to post of goodies in my new Etsy store...I will keep you posted! 

Vacation Coming!!

Wow, it is hard to keep up with a brand-new blog...so hoping to get better at it while I am on vacation the next two weeks!!  So today is one of those little things...my birthday!  My sweet hubby decided to take us on a weekend cruise to celebrate - what a great surprise!!  We leave on Friday, back on Monday, so I hope to start getting the hang of this blog thing when get back!  See you soon!

Sweet Little Things

Well, time flies, as I mentioned before, so it is time for an update.  Sam and I were off to Pennsylvania for a week including the Memorial Day holiday, and we had a grand time!  We visited with our grandson, Daniel, and his parents, Stephanie and Rick.  One of the best days was Memorial Day, when we went to the Radnor parade and then had a barbecue with all of their friends. More on that later!

Our sweet little thing of the moment is our new fur baby, Heidi!  We are now the proud parents of THREE little Chihuahuas, and we are loving every minute of it!

A Special BIG Day!

Wow, can you believe it?  My friend's parents are celebrating 50 years of marriage this month!  We are sending cards (hopefully 50 of them!) to arrive for their big day as a surprise!  This is my contribution:
 

Happy 50th Anniversary, Tom and Grace!

Lots of Little Things! (and one Big One)

Wow, how time flies!  Been away for a while, due to some health issues with Hubby, but he is doing well now...and that is a BIG thing!

Now that things are better with his health, I am back to appreciating the little things...like being published in the Catch Up Issue, 2011 of the Stamper's Sampler!  I was surprised with the latest issue arriving at my house with its yellow cover page that says..."Congratulations, You've Been Published"!!  It is definitely one of the little things that brings joy to my life! 

Another special little thing was seeing my son on Mother's Day!!  It had been a while since he had been by my house, with school and work and such, so it was a special treat to have him come up with me to my mom's house and have lunch!

Now that I am getting the hang of this blog thing, I will post pictures of the card sets that I made as Mother's Day gifts in my next post...since the joy on the recipients' faces is one of those little things!! 

Happy Wednesday, Once Again!

Wow, time goes by quickly in Blogland!  I recently received a picture of my three great kids...all grown up now, of course...taken at their father's wedding this past weekend.  The best part is that the kids are blessed with a wonderful person in their new step-mom, Marge; and that is one of the little things that makes life wonderful!

Happy Wednesday!

What a lovely morning!  After attending the most wonderful concert on Tuesday afternoon, today is my go-in-late-to-the-office morning...and, to my delight, an adorable student, Jenny, brought me a Starbucks cafe mocha  as a treat!  And that is the little thing that is the beginning of a great day!

A Beautiful, Sunny Friday!

One of those little things...a warm, beautiful beginning to the weekend!  As an added bonus, my dear hubby came and took me out to lunch in the little village near the university where I work.  Since his air conditioning is not working right now, we had the blessing of driving with the windows down on this gorgeous day...it's the little things!

Looking forward to a Saturday afternoon concert, and working on my stamping...hope you have a fun-filled weekend too! 

I finally did it!

Well, here it goes ~  I have finally begun to set up a blog page!  Not quite sure what direction it will go in, but as an artist at heart, I know it will take on a life of its own, as most art does. I've been thinking about this for quite a while, and when the inspiration hit me this morning, I just jumped in!

So there it is, a very humble and unplanned beginning...more to come soon!