Just Because

Hello there friends.  I hope that your week is moving right along in a good direction!  We have a fun challenge for you today!  CAS-ual Fridays is the sponsor for the current CARDS challenge.  The challenge this time is a sketch challenge.  Being a CAS girl at heart, I'll admit to at first being a bit intimidated by the shapes and the layers in the sketch below.  So...my end result is not CAS, but not super layered either. I am in love with Pool Party, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade colors from Stampin' Up.   You can see they inspired the colors for my card!   I used the Beanstalk and Loving Thoughts set to create my card.

The Girl Friday Ink Squad all have fabulous creations to share with you too.  We thought it would be fun to do a little blog hop to make it easy and fun for you :)  Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs as you hop along.  One of the blogs...and it's still a mystery as to which one it will be...will have a random winner who will receive a really great prize!

If you got lost or sidetracked along the way, here is the lineup:

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

Lynn Mangan

Virginia Lu

Kelly Griglione

Dana Seymour

Karen Baker

Michelle Woerner

Piali Biswas

Laurie Willison

CARDS Blog Challenge

The prize for the sketch challenge is really awesome but you'll have to make it through to the CARDS blog to see it! Be sure to follow their instructions to include your project for your chance to win, you have until June 17th to play along.

Now off you go to see what Virginia has created for your oohing and aahing delight!

 

 

 

With Gratitude

Happy March 1st!  Time sure is flying this year.  I think we say that every year though.  Over on the CARDS blog, Paige challenged us to make a quilted card.  I put the brads to go along with the My Mind's Eye paper back and had yet to use them. I decided to punch out several hexagons in the patterned paper and add the brads.  The butterfly in the middle is a brad too.  Now...I need your opinion? Where would you have placed the sentiment?  Now that it is stamped, I'm looking at it thinking maybe I should have centered it.  But...no redos happening here.  I'll just have to roll with it.

And...I can't leave without passing on several thank yous. I've been chosen by three bloggers for the Liebster Blog Award.  I simply adore blogging and want to pass a big thank you to all of you in particular:  Kristen, Chunyuan and Janet.   Be sure to stop by their blogs and check out all of their gorgeous creations!

Happy Friday Eve to all of you!

A Few More Christmas Cards...

My Christmas card madness is coming to a close :).  I have just a few more left to complete and then it will be time to close it out until I start creating for next year!  How are you cards coming along?  Do you have a favorite one?  This one is definitely my favorite for the year.  I made quite a few and love, love, love the CAS design.

Collin and Marcel are on about the tenth draft of their Christmas lists.  We mailed them this past weekend so we'll see how many special messages I need to send to Santa with their changes!  It never fails that they come up with a must have for their list a day or two before Christmas, but come Christmas morning they are always thrilled with what they receive.  Ryan wants only a few expensive gifts and Jonathon has a prioritized list. He has a definite lists of 1s - "Would prefer first" and 2s - "Nice to have gifts".  Have to love a child that can prioritize (a boy after my own anal heart!).

And here's another card I don't think I've shared yet and have entered in the current week's CARDS challenge featuring Christmas cards.  

Happy Friday...

Hi there...popping in this evening with a quick share and a peak at my first ever published card!  I mentioned a few days ago that I was published for the first time in CARDS magazine this month.  So...how fun, when I got a marketing email today from CARDS/NorthRidge Publishing and it had my card as their marketing image.  Did a little happy dance and then of course, wanted to share it with you!

I also wanted to pop in and share my card for the current Wee Memories Challenge.  The sketch challenge this week was a lot of fun.  I love the scallop at the top.  And of course, pulled out one of my favorite sets...PTI Fancy Flourishes. 

I hope your weekend gets off to a great start.  I popped out of work a few hours early today after a meeting and surprised Jonathon by picking him up from school.  We came home, changed and went to Barnes & Noble.  Jonathon picked out some "non-fiction" books on Walt Disney, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. He's already started Abraham Lincoln and is filling me in on all kinds of facts.  We then stopped in the B&N cafe for some hot chocolate and a gooey Oreo stack cake filled with Oreos and cream...yum!  We then headed over to karate.  So nice to have one on one time with one of my guys.

Hope you have a fabulous relaxing weekend!

A First....

Monday, Monday....four more days until the weekend!  Thankfully, I had lots of craft time on Sunday so I have cards to share this week!  This card is for the current Cards Challenge to do a banner card and The Play Date Cafe Challenge this week.  I've been itching to get a banner set.  This is a new Hero Arts set and I love that it comes with a variety of sentiments:  Happy Birthday, Hello and Thank You...I'll definitely be putting it to good use!  What are your favorite stamps these days?  I'm loving Hero Arts and Verve (getting some new ones next week from their fabulous sale that just ended).

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Melon Mambo and Craft Card Stock; Kaiser Kraft Gems; Stampin' Up Basic Black Ink; Hero Arts Stamps; Crate Paper Restoration Collection DSP

And, I have to share a first that happened at our house just before Christmas.  Ryan had his first boy/girl get together.  It was his girlfriend's birthday on Christmas Day.  When he shared with his cousins, Madeleine and Elizabeth, they suggested a get together.  Pat and I really weren't sure about it.  So after lots of discussions, I called and introduced myself to his girlfriend's mom.  I was a nervous mess and still wasn't sure it was a good idea.  Her mom was hilarious...and just as unsure as me.  But, we both thought it was innocent enough.  And, if he wants to have his friends over, I want him to be comfortable doing so.  Ryan's idea was to watch the movie, Elf, as this is Chelsea's favorite movie.  And...he had a plan.  He had a list of decorations, food and other things that needed to take place. I meant to keep the list as it completely cracked me up (and yes, this is where he is his mother's son as I am a complete list maker), but the list got lost in all the Christmas clean up.  So, we purchased pink and purple streamers (a first in this house full of boys) and Christmas lights to decorate the basement.  It was a surprise to her that they were celebrating her birthday.  She thought she was coming over with some friends for a Christmas gift exchange.  And after several conversations with the other boys parents who were coming over, the party happened.  Very laid back (and yes, I had "reasons" to go downstairs during the three hours they were here...).  Here's a quick picture of the gang...Ryan is standing no where near his girlfriend!  Chelsea is second from the right!

They all really loved me taking their picture (well, not so much...)

And now, he's moved on to Valentine's Day.  Deciding what to get Chelsea for her birthday was a bit of a challenge.  He wanted to get her a necklace for one occasion and an iTunes gift card and Jolly Ranchers (apparently her favorite candy) for the other.  We were fine with the iTunes/candy idea, but our opinion was that jewelry is too serious for as young as they are.  This sent us into a last minute shopping trip. He didn't like shopping at the last minute, so he announced tonight that he already has her Valentine's present done....a CD with a decorated case and all of her favorite songs...sound familiar ladies?  Anyone get a gift like this when you were younger?  Do you remember your first gift from a boy?  Mine was a little stuffed dog with a Journey pin.  Anyone a fan of the band Journey when you were a teenager?  My response was, "You're planning early...isn't six weeks in advance early?"  "No mom, I don't want to be rushed."  All I can say is WOW! (and secretly wish he'd put this much planning into study habits....) 

Happy Monday...hope your week is off to a great start!

You Inspire Me

Over nine years ago, my dear friend, Barb, lost her beautiful two year old, Kevin.  Kevin died from eColi.  Barb and her family started a non-profit several years ago to not only honor Kevin's memory but to educate and promote change in food safety.  She has truly done amazing work.  A couple of weeks ago, Barb was recognized by Yoko Ono for her contributions.

I can't imagine losing a child, but know that Barb is an inspiration to us all.  She is an example of how we can take a very tragic loss and turn into positive for so many people.  To read more about Barb's non-profit, Center for Foodborne Illness, click here. 

Ingredients:  Stamps:  Hero Arts and PTI Embellishments; PTI Twine; SU Cherry Cobler, Autumn Spice and Whisper White Paper; Range Distress Inks; Clear Embossing Powder; PTI Twine

This card is also being entered for the Hero Arts Challenge and the Cards Challenge this week.

From Me to You

The current challenge over on the Cards Blog is to make a "summer fun" card.  This card was quick and easy...I love the new Crystal Wilkerson papers and stickers!  I used some of the stickers from her Sweet Summertime kit for this card.  Just added a few clouds from my WPlus9 stamps and the sentiment from my PTI set...and off we go...some summer time inspiration!

PS...I love that my number of followers is increasing...thanks so much to those of you who follow/comment...I really appreciate it!!

"The 'Nother Brother...."

Happy Thursday....I have a Marcel conversation to share before I get to my cards!  When you live in a house with all brothers...everyone is a "brother."  Friends are brothers, Uncles are brothers, everyone is a brother.

Rewind to last night:

"Mommy, can I go knock on Logan's door?" 

"No honey, not now." 

"Can I go knock on the new guy's door?" (we have new neighbors...)

"No honey, not right now...why don't you play with Collin or Jonathon?"

"NO MOMMMMMMYYY, I want to play with a 'nother brother?  You know...the new brother next door."

At which point I just start laughing...let's have all the brothers on the street come over to play!

Here's the little man with his work goggles on...he's been sporting these a lot lately...

Now...onto the cards...sharing two monochromatic cards for the current Cards Challenge...hope you enjoy!

Ingredients: Making Memories Laundry Line; SU Ruby Red Paper

Ingredients:  Hero Arts Stamp; PTI Daily Design Sentiments; Ranger Distress Ink Broken China; Making Memories Flowers; PTI Felt; Kaiser Kraft Pearls

Celebrate!

We had lots of reasons to celebrate on Sunday night.  Ryan's team won their league and tournament championship. They had to win a double header on Sunday to become tournament champions.  Four plus hours of baseball after a rain delay and it was hot!!!  Some very sweaty and happy boys at the end of a long day of baseball and a great season! 

And one very proud and if I do say so myself, good looking head coach!  I can't tell you how thankful I am for that man...teaching the boys to play through hard work, positive attitude and integrity! 

My card today is for the Just Us Girls fun template apron template challenge.  Thanks to the ladies last week at Just Us Girls for picking me as Chic of the Week!  I thought a July Fourth Celeberation card would be very fun on the apron.  I'm also playing along with Wee Memories and Cards!

Ingredients:  SU Real Red, DSP, Night of Navy, Whisper White, PTI Mega Mixed Messages and White Grosgrain Ribbon

Happy Father's Day PopPop!

This card is for my father-in-law, Dad, Henry, PopPop!  All one to us.  He is a wonderful father...for many reasons:

• His special connections with his grandchildren.  He loves the little, little babies and can comfort just about any little one...and his favorite spot is feeding a baby or getting a little one to fall asleep in his arms.  His 14 grandchildren are very blessed.
• His five children give him quite the hard time about anything and he always handles it with a big laugh...and jabbing right back at them.
• He's never far from a special event or a sporting event for our boys.  Making them extra special by treating them with Nana to lunch or dinner after a big accomplishment.
• Makes the boys feel extra special...knowing how excited Ryan was for his new cell phone..he's been calling and texting him on that phone instead of ours and calling when he knows they've done well.
• Making one on one time for each of the kids....Karate Kid with Jonathon this weekend, sleepovers with the six year old crew...so many more we could name...
• But most importantly, loving each and every one of us and being there in good and bad times.

Happy Father's Day Dad, PopPop, Henry...we love you!

This card is playing along with Jenny's Wee Memories Stitching Challenge and Cards Father's Day Challenge.  Inspiration for the layout on this card came from Maile's card here.  Love how the paper goes over the edge just a little bit!

Ingredients:  PTI Buttons and Twine; PTI Daily Designs and Daily Design Sentiment Stamps; Basic Grey White Paper Pad; SU Sand and Whisper White Paper; SU Bordering Blue Ink

With Gratitude

Good morning!  Hope you are all having a wonderful Saturday.  We're up early for a Saturday...Pat is camping with Collin and Jonathon so Marcel crawled in bed with me this morning.  Little man doesn't stay still so we were in bed for about an hour before coming downstairs...I feel an afternoon nap coming!  So nice to have him to cuddle with though...most days I have left for work before he is up and about for the day.

Now...on to my card for today.  I used the sketch from Clean & Simple...and also the challenge from Cards to use floral paper.  Maile also inspired me to use this flower tutorial.  The PTI felt was perfect to make these flowers. 

With Gratitude...I certainly have a lot to be thankful for and I have been one lucky lady in blog land this week.  Big thanks for the following goodies that will be arriving at my door step this week! Can't wait to start playing with my new things!

• Maggie Holmes and Studio Calico...look at this awesome documentary kit! 
• Dawn and WPlus9...not just one set, but three for their new release...check out this, this and this!  Can't wait to play with all of these fun new stamps!
• Becky Higgins and Madison Avenue Photography...for a photo shoot for Jake's family.

Feeling so thankful for all these wonderful giveaways!  My blog anniversary is coming up and I'll be posting a giveaway soon! 

Ingredients:  PTI Basic Blossoms Paper, PTI Beyond Background Basics and Round and Round Stamps; SU Whisper White and Tempting Turquoise Paper; SU Old Olive and Basic Black Ink; PTI Felt and Vintage Buttons