Feelin' a Little Punchy . . .

. . . er, not really. Actually, I had to look the word up. While I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, just in case I was wrong, I didn't want to sound too dumb for the sake of a catchy title. The word "punchy" actually has three meanings, two of them new to me. The first is being or appearing vigorously effective or forceful. The second meaning is what I had in mind: groggy or dazed from or as if from a punch or series of punches. The third is a short, fat fellow or anything short and thick. Just for the record, I am none of the above.

This first card is my take on Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #29. Unfortunately, I'm not all that thrilled with it. Perhaps, I would like it better if those flowers were Indian Corn Blue or something . . . Oh, well.


Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Cranberry, Sunflower, and Outdoor Denim cardstock; Outdoor Denim gingham paper (retired); Outdoor Denim ink pad; Because of You stamp set; White Daisy Bigger Brads; Fiskars Daisy punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

I like this second card much better. It's simpler, sweeter - less obnoxious! What the camera might not show is that I used Liquid Glass (I'm starting to warm up to this stuff - a little) on the flower centers.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Outdoor Denim, and Cranberry cardstock; Autumn Harvest B&T Paper (retired); Clover Meadow and Outdoor Denim ink pads; Clover Meadow marker; June Word Puzzle and Say it in Style stamp sets; Fiskars Daisy punch; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing Folder; 1/4-inch hole punch; Empressor Tool and Mat; Liquid Glass.

That's it for now. After a break from the domestic grind, I'm back at it. I hope you are having a wonderful day. I'll catch you later!

Sketch Challenge

Here's my take for the weekly sketch on Jen Del Muro's i {heart} 2stamp blog. The large flowers were stamped on a separate piece of cardstock and cut out. I used foam tape behind the center flower to add some dimension. I also used black Bitty Brads for the flower centers on the tiny flowers.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Black, and Bamboo cardstock; Silhouette paper packet; Black, Bamboo, and Desert Sand ink pads; Joy Forever and Whipper Snapper Designs Blooming Expressions stamp sets; Bitty Brads; 3M foam mounting tape.

After this weekend, I think I should lay off the stamping and spend a little more time in the kitchen again. I have not yet mentioned our cupcake adventure. Although I've never been one to make fancy cakes from scratch or anything, there was a day when I could handle a boxed cake mix. Not anymore, apparently. Bjorn, Mathias, and I started with a yellow cake mix that called for a half-cup of butter and three eggs. Somehow, I totally missed the first ingredient, which was a cup of water. How I missed it is beyond me, because they not only list the ingredients on the box, but there are little pictures to go along with them. Nevertheless, the kids added the butter and eggs, and we let the mixer do its job. I thought the batter looked strange, but then again, I'd never used a cake mix that called for butter instead of cooking oil. I looked at the box again. Yup, a half-cup of butter and three eggs. We filled our cupcake papers and placed them in the tins, the batter thicker than muffin batter. Just as we were finishing, I took one more look at the cake mix box and finally "saw" that first ingredient. Thus, we proceeded to squeeze our ultra thick cake batter out of the papers and back into the bowl - a process the boys thought was more fun than filling them. It was messier, too. To allow for loss, I added 3/4-cup of water instead of the full cup and took it back to the mixer. The end result was cupcakes, which the boys frosted and decorated with "creepy" Gummy Bugs. They had a blast and were most pleased and proud of their accomplishment. It's only poor Grandma who is wondering if she's lost it. Good grief . . .

That little story told, I'll sign off for tonight and go do what I need to do to prepare myself for another week of work. Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere. With nothing on my after hours agenda this week, I'll most likely be stopping back. I hope you do, too! Take care.

Another Sketch Challenge

This is what I came up with for Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #27. Ah yes, I realize there is no cupcake on this card. For me, it was all about the fun sketch and the opportunity to use one of my favorite stamp sets and some fun Basic Grey paper. I don't think there's anything here that requires explanation. What the camera doesn't reveal is that the flowers are dimensional with foam mounting tape between the bottom and second layers.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Chocolate cardstock; Basic Grey "Infuse" 6x6-inch paper pad; Cranberry, Blush, Olive, and Chocolate ink pads; Verve Stamps Petals & Stems and CTMH Happy Birthday stamp sets; Chocolate grosgrain ribbon; Chocolate mini brads; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilites Classic Circle set; 3M foam mounting tape.

That's the last of the stamping for me this weekend. After I finish a couple of things that I need to do to prepare myself for the workweek, I'm going to park my butt on my futon and watch the finale of Design Star on HGTV. After last week, I don't really care who wins. They are both good. I suppose I'll have to tune in to the finale of Nashville Stars tomorrow evening, too. While that isn't a competition I would normally watch, I had a personal interest in this one. Ashlee Hewitt , who was eliminated on July 21, is from a small town about 60 miles north of here. She's one of 13 children, a mix of natural and adopted kids. Six years ago, when I was at the newspaper, I wrote a Mother's Day story about her family. The interview meant spending the afternoon with them. She and her older sister were performing together at that time, doing local stuff, county fairs, etc. Her personality back then was just like it was on TV - outgoing and yet, sweet and unpretentious. It's been fun watching her. With Ashlee out of the competition, however, I want Melissa to win. I'm a big fan of her big voice! So much for my television habits . . . I hope you have a good week. Thanks for stopping by!

Sketch Challenge

There's nothing like a sketch challenge to get the creative juices flowing. Here's my take on Jen Del Muro's latest sketch on her i {heart} 2 stamp blog. It's another example of how one can take the Happiness stamp set into late summer and autumn.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Bamboo, Chocolate, and Honey cardstock; Caprice paper packet; Garden Green, Honey, and Chocolate ink pads; Happiness stamp set; Chocolate grosgrain ribbon; Dimensional Elements Ribbon Accents; Round sponge; Sponge dauber; Sanding block.

Everyone must be doin' somethin' this weekend. Blog traffic is slow. That's OK. I hope everyone is having a good time. Take care, and when you get around to stopping by, know that I'm glad you're here!!

In the Mood for a Challenge

I've been a fan of Taylor's Cupcake Challenge for what seems like forever but had never participated. Actually, it's a sketch challenge, and one does not need to use cupcake stamps. For this particular sketch, however, I did opt to bring out my one and only cupcake set to give it a whirl.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Sweet Leaf, and Watermelon cardstock; Making Memories Sugar 6x6 cardstock collection; Black, Sunkiss Yellow, Blush, Baby Pink, Amethyst, Topiary, Garden Green, Twilight, and Grey Wool ink pads; Holiday Red marker; Impression Obsession Cupcakes stamp set; Bubblegum chiffon ribbon; Acrylic discs from Michael's; Liquid Glass; Dove blending pen; 3M foam mounting tape.

Even with that afternoon nap, I'm wiped out tonight, which means I'm going to hit the hay as soon as I've finished this post. We had a fun day with the little ones. We spent some time outside running through the sprinkler and riding the Gator. The big hit of the day, however, was when Grandma brought out her Cuttlebug (aka Grandma's "Card Making Machine") and let them emboss copy paper to their heart's content. As cranking on that thing isn't all that hard, I don't quite get the concept of the Cuttlekid's machine unless it's so that they have one of their own so they'll leave yours alone . . . I also gave them each a sheet of some freebie stickers I'd received with magazine subscription advertisements. They were applied to sheets of cardstock "collage style" and are now hanging on my refrigerator. Fun! No, the yawns are getting wider and more frequent, telling me it's time to call it a day. I hope you are enjoying the weekend. Take care, and thanks for stopping!

Intrigued by a Challenge

For the past few weeks, I've been intrigued by the color challenges on Kristina Werner's blog, KWernerDesign.

This week, I decided to give it a try. I had to do a little guesswork with regard to replacing the listed Stampin' Up colors with Close to My Heart colors. I think Pumpkin Spice is quite a bit lighter than Autumn Terracotta. Orange, I thought, would be too bright. Anyway, it was kind of fun, and I actually like the unconventional color combination. I need a push once in a while to try something that's a little out of the box. It's another simple design - all I could muster with limited mojo . . .

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, and Garden Green cardstock; Heavenly Blue textured cardstock; Black, Autumn Terracotta, and Garden Green ink pads; June Word Puzzle and Because of You stamp sets; Corner Rounder; My Legacy Writer.

I don't know if I'll post a link to my card on Kristina's blog or not. Regardless, like I said, it was fun. I certainly hope morning finds me a little more chipper. My mood is weird. I can't even pin down a word to describe it. "Off kilter" might say it best . . . kind of like I've lost my balance. Maybe my nice, soft bed and an open window with a gentle breeze will help. Perhaps a morning without the ring of an annoying alarm clock will be even better. Hmm . . . I've think talked myself into something. Until tomorrow . . .

Cards, Cards, Cards

There are times (but luckily not too many) when I see a single card and have to have a stamp set. When I spotted this oh-so-cute card on Charmaine's Oodabug Alley blog, Bugs and Blooms became one of those sets. The ladybug really got to me. In one word - cute!!!

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Black, Sunflower, Sweet Leaf, Chocolate, and Topiary ink pads; Holiday Red marker; Memory Box Bugs and Blooms and Verve Visual Filigree Fantasy stamp sets; Ribbon from Walmart; Corner rounder.

Cute as the ladybug was, I couldn't base my decision to purchase a stamp set on one stamp. Then, I saw the bee. I didn't have a bee stamp but needed one. I also like cute bees as opposed to, for the most part, realistic bees. While I have a true appreciation for the important work done by bees, I'm scared to death of them, and even real-looking bee stamps kind of give me the creeps. What you can't see in the photo are my cute bee's vellum wings.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Black, and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Vellum; Black ink pad; Memory Box Bugs and Blooms and Verve Visual Thoughtful Florals stamp sets; Black Bitty Brads; Black gingham ribbon; Paper piercing tool; Stampin' Up Horizontal Slot punch.

In addition to the cute bugs, the set includes lots of cute flowers. Who can have too many flowers? This card was inspired by the Be Inspired challenge on Beate's Fresh & Fun blog.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Cranberry, and Buttercup cardstock; Cranberry, Buttercup, Crystal Blue, Garden Green, and Black ink pads; Heavenly Blue marker; Memory Box Bugs and Blooms and Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics stamp sets; CTMH retired Speckled Backgrounds stamp; EK Success corner rounder.

If I had to pick my favorite flower in this set, it would be the one I saw on that first card. It's just so darned sweet and makes for such a cheerful looking lineup. I saw the background stamp as one I would use again and again, too.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Topiary cardstock; Black, Cranberry, Topiary, and Buttercup ink pads; Memory Box Bugs and Blooms and Verve Visual Thoughtful Florals stamp sets; Topiary My Accents; EK Success corner rounder; Stampin' Up Word Window punch.

Amongst all the little flowers in this set is one that's a bit larger. It's a sweet one, too. For this card, I used my Prismacolor colored pencils, Gamsol mineral spirits and a blending stump to color them. The result was a fun-to-make, simple card.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Garden Green, and Black cardstock; Black and Garden Green ink pads; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol mineral spirits; Blending stump; Memory Box Bugs and Blooms and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp sets; Ribbon from Michael's; White Bitty Brads; Stampin' Up Ticket punch; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches.

So, with several stamps in the set that have yet to touch an ink pad, I will say I love this set. I will also say that it took longer to write this post than it did to make the cards this morning. Furthermore, I bought Bugs and Blooms (along with the Impression Obsession Cupcakes set featured a couple of posts ago) from Stamper's Dream. I didn't link you there earlier, because I bought the last Bugs and Blooms set they had (Yes, seeing one of something left in stock is a motivator to place an order). Back to Stampers Dream, service was first-class, which seems to be the way with a lot of online companies. And . . . it all started with a ladybug . . .

My husband thinks I'm crazy but, nonetheless, seems to realize that stamping is my therapy. I know for a fact that stamping is cheaper than a shrink. It's more fun, too. Unfortunately, health care coverage does not cover stamps but would be wise (and money ahead) if it did. Now, that I've stamped a little, I'm going to go get on with the business of the day. Thanks for stopping. I hope your day is a good one!

Alive and Kicking . . . Er, Stamping

First, thank you to all who have commented on my last two posts. I went to bed right after posting last night and slept straight through until 6 a.m. Evidently, the fever broke during the night, and when I woke this morning, I knew I was on the mend and feeling good enough to go to work. While I still have a cold, am very sore from coughing, and don't feel like mountain climbing, I believe I'm on the road to recovery. This card is for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. It's a composition of some of my favorites - color, words, stamps, paper, tools. This challenge is a favorite, too, which is why I'm a little sad that Beate is suspending it until August 15th, while she takes a much deserved break from the blogosphere.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White cardstock; Twilight textured cardstock; Stampin' Up Porcelain Prints Designer Series Paper; Twilight ink pad; Stampin' Up Essence of Love and Verve Visual Serenity stamp sets; Silver mini brads; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; Piercing tool; Stampin' Up Piercing Guide and Mat.

This second card was actually my first card of the day. Yes, I was up at 6 a.m. in the mood not only to stamp but to do something different and scanning Splitcoast Stampers' site to come up with a new (to me) technique. I decided on the Grid Technique. With no Scor-Pal (Tell me, do I need one of these things?), I used my Empressor tool and guide, which worked just fine. It was kind of fun and a good way to start the day.


Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Garden Green, and Olive cardstock; Olive, Garden Green, and Bamboo stamp pads; Verve Visual Serenity and Memory Box Bugs & Blooms stamp sets; Olive chiffon ribbon; Empressor tool and Guide.

OK. Despite the sore diaphragm, life is good again. In fact, a phone call I received while creating this post made it even better and provided me with a little secret, which hopefully, I'll be able to share in a few days. In the meanwhile, I've got plenty to do, including getting ready for my stamp club meeting on Sunday night.

For tonight, thanks for stopping and cyber hugs to those who extended get well wishes. Have a good weekend, and if you're so inclined, stop back to see what I'm doin'. Later!

Weekend Sketch Challenge

This is my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. Can you tell how much I love the Petals & Stems stamp set? It's sweet and fun. It makes me smile. I deemed paper choice important for this sketch and am happy with my choices.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Cranberry, Hollyhock, and Cocoa cardstock; Basic Grey "Infuse" paper pad; Olive, Hollyhock, Cranberry, Cocoa, and Bamboo ink pads; Verve Visual Petal & Stems and Thoughtful Florals stamp sets; Antiqued Copper Bitty Brads; Stampin' Up Word Window punch; 3M foam mounting tape.

My house is quiet. Marv went to the golf course, and Cameron came to pick up the boys late this morning. I have a "tent" (a Spiderman table with a blanket over it) in my living room and toys scattered everywhere. The sink is full of dishes from the pancake breakfast Grandpa made this morning. I have a shopping list as long as my arm. With a corner well-stocked with stamps, paper, and ink, all of that sounds rather unappealing. Nevertheless, I guess I'd better hop to it . . . Later!

Weekend Sketch Challenge

Here's my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. It doesn't include much that requires explanation. I watercolored my stamped image with a Dove blender and ink from my ink pads. I used Prismacolor pencils for my first try, and while they worked just fine, the colors didn't provide the "match" for this bold paper that the coordinating ink did. As far as embellishments beyond the rickrack go, I couldn't see that more would really add anything to the design.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Olive, and Buttercup cardstock; Creative Basics Boom-Di-Ada Collection; Black, Olive, Garden Green, Sweet Leaf, Hollyhock, Brown Bag, Grey Wool, and Twilight ink pads; Stampin' Up Blooming with Love and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp sets; Dove blending pen; Piercing tool; Stampin' Up Piercing Guide & Mat.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend. Catch you later!

Weekend Challenge Sketch

Here's my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. Take a look at Beate's beautiful card here on the Fresh & Fun blog. That new Fresh Cuts set from Stampin' Up looks really interesting.

My card has a more casual flair using the Petals and Stems set from Verve Visual one more time along with the fun papers from CTMH's Let's Get Together paper packet. If the photo doesn't show it, the flower elements were stamped, cut out, and layered with a little foam mounting tape. Dimension always adds a fun element to a card.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Buttercup, and Breeze cardstock; Let's Get Together Level 2 paper packet; Breeze, Cranberry, Buttercup, and Garden Green ink pads; Verve Visual Petals and Stems and Impression Obsession Anytime Sentiments stamp sets; Cranberry gingham ribbon; Garden Green mini brads; 3M foam mounting tape.

I think it is going to be an early night. With the exception of a fan humming and some birds chirping rather loudly outside my window, it's really quiet around here tonight. As much as I adore my husband and family, I'll have to say that every once in a while I like the quiet of being alone. It gives me a chance to catch up on my thoughts and put life into perspective. Thanks for stopping by and to those who have left comments or emailed me this week, I'm sending cyber hugs. Words of encouragement are always appreciated. Good night, and have a great weekend.

Weekend Challenge Card

Here's my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. There wasn't a whole lot of stamping going on with this one. It's kind of fun once in a while to let some pretty paper and a flower or two do all the work.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Buttercup cardstock; Creative Basics Boom-Di-Ada Collection; Olive ink pad; Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp set; Just Blooms Big Pinks and Autumn Daisy collections; Colonial White Waxy Flax; Bitty Brads; Buttercup My Accents (button); Stampin' Up Word Window punch; Piercing Tool; Stampin' Up Piercing Guide and Mat; Mini Glue Dots; 3M foam mounting tape.

We have the beginning of a beautiful day in Minnesota. Finally! We may even have leaves on the trees this year! With that happy thought, I'm going to go see if I can't get some domestic stuff done. Albeit sweet and wonderful to have around, my grandsons are messy. A glance at my corner would give one the impression that it's an inherited trait. I'm not very good about putting my toys away either. Later!!

Putsy Challenge Card

Here's my take on Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. It was another card that evolved with a lot of trying this and trying that to accomplish the look I wanted. In the end, I think I might have reversed the flowers or at the very least, tried it! The card is mostly layered paper, easy with the perfectly coordinated Boom-Di-Ada paper packet. The flowers were stamped on Buttercup cardstock and cut out. I inked the edges with Barn Red and curled the petals a bit for added dimension. I also added a Circle Window Charm to the center of the large flower and used Garden Green brads as centers for the small ones.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, and Buttercup cardstock; Boom-Di-Ada paper packet; Olive, Barn Red, Buttercup, and Bamboo ink pads; Cottage Floral and Follow Your Dreams stamp sets; Garden Green brads; Circle Window Charms; Sponge dauber.

It didn't take little Bjorn long to fall asleep once his movie was over. Grandpa rubbed his cheek for a couple minutes, and he was out. Just like I did with my boys, I always make one last stop in their bedroom, before turning in myself, just to watch them sleep for a few moments. Mathias' hands, when he sleeps, are positioned just like his daddy's were when he slept at the same age 27 years ago. I have no photographs of my sleeping children but rather a clear picture etched in my mind. I'm glad I made those nightly stops now. I am happy, too, to have more little boys with whom to create memories. For tonight, I think I'll do like the rest of my household and go to bed. It will be playtime in the morning, so I'd best have some energy! Later!!

Challenge Card

I'm not sure, but I'm thinking Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge could also be called "Kathi's Birds of a Feather Challenge." It seems like I've reached for this particular stamp set for more than one challenge card in past weeks. The papers I used are a marriage of Close To My Heart's Sweet Leaf and Twilight textured cardstock and Stampin' Up's beautiful Porcelain Prints designer paper collection. I was so happy when the colors complemented one another. The oval pieces cut with a Coluzzle template and scalloped scissors convinced me that the oval Nestabilities need to be moved up a little higher on my wish list, only because they are so much easier to use. While while you can't see it because of the reflection, the ribbon is serving as my sentiment. It simply says, "Blessings."

Materials & Tools: (CTMH unless otherwise noted) White Daisy cardstock; Sweet Leaf and Twilight textured cardstock; Stampin' Up Porcelain Prints designer collection; Sweet Leaf, Chocolate, Garden Green, Twilight ink pads; Impression Obsession For the Birds stamp set; Heartfelt Designer Ribbon Rounds; Bitty Brads; Sponge dauber; Coluzzle w/Ovals template; Scalloped-edge scissors; 3M foam mounting tape.

This has been one crazy week, which is about all I can say that would make any sense. I'm home by myself this weekend, which is OK. Some alone time will be good, affording me the opportunity to sort it all out. I'll do it while I'm stamping, the most therapeutic activity that I've ever come across . . . for me, anyway, and most likely, for a few of you. I'll catch you later.

Here's my card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge on her Fresh & Fun blog. There's nothing much to explain - I cut out a couple of the butterflies and mounted the sentiment to the card with foam mounting tape for a little dimension.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Black, and Cranberry cardstock; Black ink pad; Stampin' Up Essence of Love stamp set; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder; Mini Glue Dots; 3M foam mounting tape.

It looks like it's going to be a sunny day. It's starting out that way anyway. I'm going to go brew a pot of coffee and see what everyone else in the house is up to. Fresh from a good nights sleep, little people are always at their best in the morning. It's a good time to enjoy them. Later!

Challenged Again

While blog surfing (blurfing??) today, I came across another challenge on Erin's fun Inky Smiles blog. Although I've never met Erin, she's a former CTMH consultant who seems to me to have a heart as big as her smile. Her challenge included, not only a sketch, but criteria to go with it. While I don't know how well I did with either, I had fun trying.

The "rules" include using patterned paper, a horizontal element or two, only two stamps (a sentiment and another), dimensional Pop-Dots or anything that adds dimension, and something sparkly. The first challenge was using only two stamps. Every focal point image I could think of at first involved using more than one stamp, and every single stamp I could think of wasn't one suitable for sparkle.Then I remembered "The Gals." I had been thinking previously that it would be fun to add a little glitter to their attire. I had my two stamps figured out. With regard to horizontal elements, I laid the stripes of the patterned paper from the retired Stylin' paper packet horizontally, killing two birds with one stone. The photo turn, which is holding the gate-fold card closed, is horizontal, too. With regard to dimension, the focal point image and sentiment are mounted with my favorite 3M foam mounting tape, the sentiment is on a round Dimensional Accent, and for a little extra dimension, I ran my Hollyhock cardstock through the Cuttlebug. I think I met the criteria. I did end up changing the sketch a bit, as a horizontal sentiment didn't work. Like I said, it was fun giving it a whirl.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Hollyhock, Baby Pink and Black cardstock; Retired Stylin' paper packet; Black, Hollyhock, and Baby Pink ink pads; Autumn Terracotta, Holiday Red, Kiwi, Topiary, Barn Red, Grey Wool, Desert Sand, Hollyhock, and Tombow Flesh markers; Emerson Quillin "The Gals" stamp and Impression Obsession Anytime Sentiments set; Black photo turn and mini eyelet; Round Dimensional Element; My Legacy Writer; Sakura Quickie Glue pen; Prisma Glitter; Cuttlebug w/D'vine Swirl embossing folder; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

This post is long enough without my adding any jabber to it. Besides, I ate so much for dinner that I need to go lay down. Overeating is not generally something I do. Now I know why . . . Thanks for stopping by. I had a good day and hope you did, too.

Challenge Card

I was home again today with the same killer headache I had yesterday accompanied by a few other unpleasant symptoms. Marv isn't feeling well either. I'm feeling a little better this evening and thought doing something might snap me out of it.

This card was inspired by Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. It's a fun and simple sketch, which is right up my alley. The only thing that isn't visible in the photo is the textured cardstock I used for the pink band.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Baby Pink textured cardstock; Basic Grey Sultry patterned paper; Blush, Baby Pink, and Sweet Leaf ink pads; Thoughts of You and Say it in Style May SOTM stamp sets; Stampin' Up Whisper White taffeta ribbon; Acrylic Discs from Michael's; Piercing tool; Stampin Up Piercing Guide and Mat; 3M foam mounting tape.

It's just started to snow here. It's storming south of us. Good grief . . .

Hope

This card was inspired by Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. While I believe the pattern on the paper I used is leaves, there is something about it that reminds me of birds, and so for me, it was a good choice to use with this favorite sentiment. Like the patterned paper, the cardstock I used is textured. The sentiment was mounted with foam mounting tape.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy cardstock; White Daisy, Twilight, and Sweet Leaf textured cardstock; K&Company Amy Butler Designer Mat Pad; Sweet Leaf ink pad; Clearly Wordsworth Comfort stamp set; Stampin' Up Whisper White taffeta ribbon; 3M foam mounting tape.

The sentiment, in the event that you cannot read it, says: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tunes without the words and never stops - at all."

Last night, what I described as a "funk" was more like despair. There are times when I am troubled, and while I can rationalize the haunting situation in my mind, I am not yet able to resolve it in my heart. Today, it wasn't the alarm that woke me at 5 a.m. but a chorus of birds backed up by an obstreperous flock of geese. It wasn't even light out yet. When daylight came, there was not a cloud to be seen on the horizon. It was a perfect Blue Sky Day, bringing with it a message. The song continues. Every now and again, the volume gets turned down, which only means I need to listen more closely.

A Fun Challenge

When I saw Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge this week, it didn't throw me for a loop the way it sometimes does. Instead, I almost immediately had something in mind.

First of all, I love red and blue. When my boys were little, I "color coded" them. My dark-haired, brown-eyed child was frequently dressed in red, and his younger brother, a blue-eyed boy with a mop of blond curls, donned blue a good part of the time. Often, their clothing matched with the exception of the color. That lasted until they reached school age, although I don't think we got quite that far before they started complaining about it. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted, and I shudder to recall some of the "discussions" we had about clothing prior to their becoming adults. I suffered through some rather distasteful stages, allowing them to express their individuality . . . so long as it remained what I deemed "decent."

Back to my card, the flower in the "Treasures of the Heart" stamp set is all-time favorite for dry embossing with a stamped image (directions below). As for the rest of the card, it pretty much explains itself. Bright and cheerful, it's one that makes me smile.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Moonstruck, and Cranberry cardstock; Route 66 paper packet; Moonstruck and Cranberry ink pads; Treasures of the Heart stamp set; Just Blooms White Daisy Variety Pack; Red mini brads; Yellow big brad; Embossing tool; Sanding block; 3M mounting tape.

How to Emboss a Stamped Image: Stamp your image on colored white-core cardstock using any ink color that you will be able to see clearly. Place your stamped piece on the sheet of foam that comes with your stamp set, a piece of fun foam, or your Coluzzle cutting mat (a surface with a little "give"). With an embossing tool (or dried up ballpoint pen), trace around your stamped images. When done, turn your piece over and sand, allowing the white-cored cardstock to show through. Finish your card.

And by the way, as much as I've been tempted by their coloring (a dark-haired, brown-eyed child and a blue-eyed, fair-haired boy) and the fact that I still love red and blue, I haven't color-coded the grandchildren. Should I be blessed with a granddaughter someday, however, I'm thinking that, regardless of her coloring, I'll be buying a lot of pink . . . at least for a while.

Friday - Yes!

There's no denying it. I'm always glad when Friday rolls around. Today was no exception. My card was made with some of the the stamps and papers that are currently cluttering my desk top. That's a hint at what my first order of business is this evening!

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Garden Green, and Cranberry cardstock; Let's Get Together Paper packet; Buttercup, Cranberry, Garden Green, and Chocolate ink pads; Impression Obsession For the Birds, CTMH April Word Puzzle, and Express Postage April SOTM stamp sets; Cranberry gingham ribbon; Cranberry mini brads; 1-11/16th inch circle punch; Stampin' Up Ticket punch; Cricut w/Mini Monograms cartridge; 3M foam mounting tape.

When I woke up this morning, the ground was covered with snow, and it was still coming down. I thought it was bit of a bummer, even though it was late in coming. It's been snowing all around us, as well as in other parts of the country, for days. I couldn't stay down long, however, because the birthday boy was up and his sweet little morning self. "Happy Birthday, Mathias," I told him. "Happy Birthday, Gamma," he retorted, obviously not grasping the idea that the day was his. After a couple of hugs and kisses, I was out the door. When I got to my car, I wished more than anything that my camera had been at hand. Not only was I greeted by my first robin but by an entire flock of robins filling the nearby trees. Oh, what a racket they were making, too. They weren't chirping but rather screeching, and while I'm not familiar with "Robinese," I'm certain they were asking, "Why in the world are we here?" It was quite a sight, and snow or no snow, between the robins that hold the promise of spring and sweet Mathias on his special day, it was a great way to start a Friday.

With that little story behind me, I'm going to go straighten up my corner a bit and prepare for what I hope will be a creative weekend. Later!