Time to send Season's Greetings!

A tradition that makes us think of each other again - at least, once a year... and while we can't send everybody a gift, we still can send them a real paper card, which is so much more like a gift than any electronic greeting card, and as much as I prefer emails over snail mail, I admit that Christmas is a time when I see things a little differently ;-)

Below a collection of cards from My Store at Greeting Card Universe:

I also have photo cards where you can insert your own picture. In my other store at Zazzle you also find different card sizes and matching stamps. And if you don't find the right card in my collection: GCU has a lot more great artists with great cards!

Personalized Presents

Maybe you know it only too well... sometimes it just seems like we run out of inspiritation what present to buy when there's a birthday coming up, an anniversary, graduation, or whatever... and most of all: christmas! And the more we really want to show how much we care about that special person, the harder it sometimes gets to find an appropriate gift, as we really don't want it to look like a "stopgap present"!

Find some suggestions in my Squidoo lens "Personalized Presents"

My Christmas Shop 2011 is open!

In my little Christmas Shop you find lots of gifts for your loved ones that you can personalize to let them know how special they are to you. And of course, you also find greeting cards, postcards, photocards and stamps to send them your Holiday Greetings.

The image below is interactive - so just move your cursor over the image to see numerous little dots appear (they might just need a little time to load, depending on your connection), that are links you can click on to check out items.

So come on in and take a look around without any obligation! I'm happy to meet you and help you get the right present... so don't hesitate to ask me if you want anything in a different color, or on a different item, or with a special text - of course, at no extra charge!

How about some music to get into the christmas mood..?

Autumn

Not that I like saying good bye to summer, but the calendar leaves no doubt that it's autumn again... days are getting shorter and nights are getting longer, and nature starts to make it a little easier for me by dressing up in the most colorful clothes, like you can see in the video below, showing photos I took in fall 2008 during a trip to beautiful Colorado:




And of course, all that color insipres me to create autumn stuff (just move your mouse over the image ;-)


And here's a whole carousel full of autumn stuff you might like:

Who's afraid of no Ghosts..?

To be honest, I'm not into scary experiences at all. While visiting a friend in San Diego, I joined the Halloween celebrations in the gaslamp quarter, but I had no desire to visit the Whaley House in Old San Diego (one of the most haunted houses in the U.S.), except for taking some photos from the outside.

And during a short trip across the border, it was a little strange to watch the Mexicans prepare for "El Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), celebrated the day after Halloween, just like the german equivalent (which I was familiar with), but with a lot more fun, music and colors... skeletons dressed up in all kinds of costumes, people celebrating on the gravesites and setting up altars for their deceased ones.
Go to my Squidoo lens "Ghost Time" to read on!


Check out my Halloween Greeting Cards  and more Halloween stuff

More blogs about ghosts by my fellow GCU artists:
Spirit Orbs with Whiskers  Betty Matsumoto-Schuch
Halloween Blog Carnival  Cindy Johns
We Only Thought We Wanted a Séance  Denise Beverly
Ghosts and Goblins and Witches, Oh My!  Richard Skelley
Haunted House Halloween Party Invitations  Catherine Sherman
The Haunting of Parnell House  Janet Palaggi

Life without Cats...?!? (a Love Story)

I just can't imagine life without cats. For all of my life it was a neverending source of joy, helping little kittens being born (many of them right in my lap ;-) ... raising them with all my love... teaching them how to use a litter box or a scratching post... teaching them how to purr by purring myself (yes, I can ;-) ...watching them play (favorite game of a whole litter: horse stampede, favorite game of a lonely kitten: getting scared of its own reflection in the mirror)... watching them grow up and turn into very unique personalities, some of which were more non-judgmental friends to me than most humans. A purring cat in my lap helps me relax when stressed out... the worried expression in a cat's face when I'm sad can dry my tears and turn a smile on my face... they keep me warm in bed (though it does not even take the six of them that I once had, to warm my permanently cold feet ;-) and even all those cat-slaloms in the morning, stumbling with sleepy eyes across more cats than I actually own ;-) or their lying in clairvoyant manner on whatever I'm going to use, including my laptop (yep, that's Mousy on the right, and it looks like I'll have to finish that paragraph later ;-) or cats completely wrapped up in toilet paper (or my curtains)... all this can make me smile... and sometimes even lough out loud... and I'm sure that all cat people know exactly what I'm talking about!

Click here to read the rest

I love Summer!

Maybe it's because I'm born in Summer, but I just love this time of the year... nature provides everything in abundance, and there's so much to enjoy outdoors, like sports, barbecues, picknicks, travel or just hanging out at the beach...

Get ready...

Why not treat yourself with a big beach bag, or beach shoes with your name

If you like barbecues or fishing, get yourself an apron, a binder for your recipes, or some coasters for your BBQ party:

...and have some invitations ready to send to your friends - or send them directly from GreetingCardUniverse:
     

Of course, you can also send your vacation greetings through GCU
     

Read more blogs about SUMMERTIME, AND THE LIVING IS EASY:
Summertime Food ‘n Fun by Janet Lee Designs
Summertime at Greeting Card Universe by Floating Lemons
Summertime Flowers and Fruit by It’s a Beautiful World
Summer Celestial Events and Art by Sun at Night Studios
Discontent for Summers Past by What Dreams May Come
Summertime and the Living Is Easy by Naquiaya’s Cards
Is Summer Almost Here? by Shelley’s Card Creations
Summertime by Painted Cottage
Summertime, Meet the Breed by DogBreedz
Summertime Grilling by Sheryl Kasper Card Store
Summertime and the Kids’ Education Goes Out the Door? by Card Art From the Heart
Summertime and the Living Is Easy by Dragonfire Graphics
Ah Sweet Blessed Summertime by Salon of Art
Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Sum, Summertime by DB Visual Arts
Summertime and the Living Is Easy by Cherie’s Arts ‘N Crafts
  

Show Mom your appreciation on Mother's Day!

In most countries, including the United States, Germany, and many other, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May (this year it's May 8).

Being a mother myself, I was always more delighted by some small presents that were created from the heart, than anything expensive und unpersonal. Of course, not all of us are dedicated crafters, but still there are options to make a gift a little more personal, like a recipe-binder with Mom's name on it:

Or her personal star on the Walk of Fame on an iPad case:

And how about very special greeting card...
...like one that shows a photo of her kid(s), or a very personal text that I'm happy to customize for you at no extra cost - just send your photo or text wishes to aura2000[at]gmx.net

 

 

Or maybe just a funny card for a Mom that likes horses, or a cute one for a cat lover... or one in your mother's language (what a nice ambiguity ;-)

        

Lights out for EARTH HOUR

8:30 PM your time, Saturday 26 March 2011

Join this worldwide sustainability movement with millions of people participating, and turn off the lights for one hour, like global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome's Colosseum, all standing in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.



Hey kids, wanna create a Virtual Lantern for Earth Hour?

Earth Hour 2011: It's time to go beyond the hour

Remember February 14 is Valentine's Day!

Take advantage of this opportunity to show people you care... not only your significant other, but friends, family... just anybody! Believe me, nobody will be offended, but chances are you make their day ;-)

Reflecting on all those ways to say I love you, I created the design below (OK - there wasn't room enough to show all 100 ;-) and by clicking it you can check out even more Valentine's gifts:

Or click HERE to send a (paper) greeting card directly to someone!