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November 26, 2014

4:23 Easter Standard Time - mambi

Today I am sharing this layout that tells you why I love Day Light Savings over on the mambi Blog!  Not long after I completed this layout, I checked and the Sunset even earlier a few days later!  But like I said in my journaling, it is ok for me because I do not leave in the morning when it is dark and return in the evening after the sun has gone down.  I get to see the sun throughout the day.




I hope that you all have been inspired to create a layout that may not include a photo, something that only words can  capture.

Happy Thanksgiving.


Supplies:
Gold Thread
Gold Color Shine - Heidi Swapp
12x12 Bazzill Avalance




I whipped this up just for you.... The Rubber Cafe

Hi there, I am back with my third card created with November's Creative Cafe KOTM - Now We're Cookin!  I know you all have circle punches laying around that will help you accomplish this quick and easy card by just layering some of the pretty papers from the Echo Park 6x6 paper pad and your favorite stamps.
Head on over to The Rubber Cafe to start your subscription!  


Thank you for stopping by,



November 24, 2014

***GIVEAWAY***

I am feeling grateful this week. 
 Soon to be surrounded by my small family and lots of good friends.  
I wanted to share this Christmas mini album with one lucky winner.


All you have to do is make a comment here.

You can also improve your chances by:
* Following me on Instagram
*Tag friends on Instagram
*Repost on Instagram
*Make a purchase through my ETSY store for 5 additional chances.
You can do them all if you would like to earn that many more opportunities!

I will randomly choose a name December 3rd.
Good Luck!





Creative Packaging Blog Hop with The Rubber Cafe


Hi there, you may be here directly from The Rubber Cafe Blog Hop or from Laura Cox blog!  Either way, welcome to my blog.  Hope you have been inspired today to take a moment and decorate your thoughtful baking and presents with a little something from your Creative Cafe stash.  I have recently baked for a neighbor and added a very simple tag to the bag.  



So here is the order for the blog hop, 
be sure to share some kinds words along the way.  

Mary-Ann Maldonado  <<< You are here!

We hope that you have been inspired!  If you have been, let us see what you have created for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to The Rubber Cafe Store.  Another lucky winner will win a one month subscription to the Creative Cafe Kit of the Month.

To be considered, we ask that you leave a comment on TRC blog
visit our hard working designers blogs and leave some love 
and you can also link up your personal Rubber Cafe creation with the InLinkz tool at the bottom of TRC blog.  


Thanks for stopping in,


November 22, 2014

Grateful

People seem to express their gratitude more during this month than any other.  I wanted to express how grateful I was for my family.  My boys mean the world to me.  They make me happy every single day.  Without them, my world would be dull.  

Over at Paper Issues today, they are having a Cut It Out Link Party.  This is where you can link up any creation you made with this months FREE cut file for a chance to win.  Some of the team has been asked to play along.  Easy peasy!  When I saw the "Grateful" cut and the leaves, I knew I wanted in!  I also used the FREE November Printable that is available HERE.



Here is the Cut file used on this layout:

INSERT CUT FILE HERE

Here is the original 3x4 card printable. 
 I enlarged the NOV card on my Cameo machine and printed as a 8.5 x 11.  

Chickaniddy's Scrumptious line had the perfect colors to match the green in NOV!  
You can purchase it over at the Paper Issues Store with code: Mary-Ann for a 20% discount!

Be grateful.






November 21, 2014

A Flair for Buttons and The Cut Shoppe Blog Hop



have joined together to provide you inspiration and prize opportunities through a blog hop.  
The Cut Shoppe will be offering:  25% off coupon and a $15 gift certificate to the shop!
A Flair for Buttons will be offering:  10% coupon and 4 lucky peeps will get a set of custom flair!

YOU MUST LEAVE COMMENTS ON THE BLOGS BELOW TO BE ELIGIBLE. 

Here is my creation.
I decided to take you on my husbands travels over the last two weeks. 
I am super jealous of his adventure! 






Here is the set of flair:


Here is the cut file that I used:


Here is where you need to head next:

Mary Ann Maldonado   <<< YOU ARE HERE
GO HERE NEXT>>>  Stephanie Strader 

Thanks for stopping by today, don't forget to leave a message for a chance to win!


Supplies:  Felicity Jane Kit of the Month
Studio Calico Sequins & Tag









November 18, 2014

Go Team

Today, I am sharing this super cool layout over at The Cut Shoppe and A Flair for Buttons.  The two go hand in hand with each other for this theme.  A while back, Shelley, from AFB was making custom flair for some people and I asked for the Patriots.  Now, there is every team you could want in the shop.  If she doesn't have it, she will custom make it for you!  Talking about custom made, the "Leaf Love" cut file from The Cut Shoppe made perfect footballs!

The reason for all of this football stuff you ask? Well, I scored two Patriots vs. Bengals tickets for my boys for The October 5th game at 8:30 pm.  Funny story, my one and only Patriots game was back when I was in high school, Pats vs. Bengals!!!  I remember Boomer Esiason was the quarterback for Cincinnati and the crowd was so loud, he kept calling time out.  
Kinda cool that my boy went to his first game versing the same team!




Thanks for stopping by today.  See you again real soon.


Supplies:
Paper and Embellishments: Studio Calico  - The Underground Kit and Picadilly Add-on



November 17, 2014

Pinspire Me Monday - Paper Issues


Occasionally on Mondays over at Paper Issues, they have a fun challenge called Pinspire Me Monday.  It was generated to encourage you to find something that inspires you and create from it.  In this case, they have picked a photo of something that has inspired them.  Some of them team members play along with this and create something too!  Here is the picture of inspiration.


There are so many things you can get from this inspiration piece!  
Here is what I created!


Here are a few close ups.




I decided on circles, inspired by the Christmas ornaments.  I stayed away from Christmas for now and chose the color scheme of orange and green.  I did not want to participate in crooked paper strips, that made my hair on the back of my neck stick up!  I am not the biggest fan of crooked!  Straight please!!  I added bits and pieces of Chickaniddy Crafts - Scrumptious line that you can find HERE in the Paper Issues Store.  I threw in some random, older, fabric covered brads to soften it a bit.  

Use this code for 20% off your next purchase!
I hope you can see where I drew my inspiration.
Fabric - from the ribbon.
Color - from some of the ribbons.
Circles - from the Christmas ornaments.

Thanks for stopping in.








November 14, 2014

USMC 239th Birthday Ball Pictures

Happy 239th Birthday Marine Corps!  I feel so honored to have been a part of such an elite group of men and women for over 21 years now.  I can not remember how many balls I have attended, I was trying to think back the other night about the different dresses I have worn.  I believe I have only repeated a dress once!  The rest, hang in my closet.  Sad, I know.  The older we get, the less "prommy" my dress gets.  I guess that is an indication that we are old.  
We feel honored to have been invited to the same ball for the last 3 years with our friends, the Jennings who, three years ago, moved back to this area.  
Next year will be sad, it is almost time for them to move on.  
They also invited another set of friend's (our neighbors) the Gannons. 


Here, we get a group shot before things get crazy and the ceremony begins!


The Jennings during the ceremony.


A quick selfie during the talk!


The Gannons!


This is my chum Stacy!  Her husband is also a Marine and they live in our neighborhood too!  During the ceremony, I received many a text, telling me how hungry she was:o)


The guys. Yes, that is a Navy uniform!  
He is the corpsman for the Marine Corps and pals with Randy.  
They were stationed together in Londonderry a few years back.




As you can see above, the lighting in the hall was not great for iPhones, so off to the bathroom we go, for a well-lite groupie!  We give the phone to Linda, because she has the longest arms!


This may have been well into the night.  Instead of duck lips, it looks like we all are sniffing our runny noses!  We took tons of photos here in the bathroom, Ill just share these two!


At this point, the ball is winding down and we decide it is time for us old folks to hit the town!  
Off, by cab, to The Greatest Bar.  
Do you have any idea how cold it was outside?  
Or how hard it is for 6 people to get a cab and head to one location? 
On a Saturday night in Boston!


I knew by the bouncers outside that this was the bar for me!  What kind of music you ask?  Rap, rock and pop.  I just LOVE it!  Crowded, loud and FUN!  So, the trick is, show up with a guy in uniform and you just walk right in, kinda like the cool kids cutting line in all the movies!


Randy and Tate with a couple creepers in back!  ha


Off we go to another bar, about 17,000 miles away.  
Yes, we walked!  Yes, we closed it down!  
You can see here that we, or some of us, still got it!  
He is all mine folks!  Back off.


Tommy  and Linda knew the owner of this bar, 
so we got to hang a bit after the young peeps went off to sleep!  


As we are leaving the bar, the owner gets us sausages from the street vendor outside.  
We all THINK we are hungry.  They were delicious!  I think.

What a grand night with great friends.  
We are blessed that the Marine Corps has brought so many wonderful people into our lives.