Hooray!

It’s Friday. Is everyone gearing up for a fun weekend?

My card is based on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #132. I don’t think it requires much in the way explanation, although I might mention that I have taken quite a liking to the look achieved when one uses a Nestabilities die as a stencil for sponged ink. Not only does it add some depth and interest to the image but creates an instant border as well.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Bamboo, and Desert Sand cardstock; Silhouette Creative Basics paper; Black, Bamboo, and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distressing Ink stamp pads; Hero Arts Friendship and Garden Bouquet stamps and Verve Stamps Autumn Splendor stamp pads; Black chiffon ribbon; Fiskars Apron Lace border stamp; Sponge daubers.

A Slice of Life: The birthday party for Sarah I had planned for this evening was postponed until Sunday. Cameron and Sarah got their hands on some tickets for a college hockey game tonight in Grand Forks. I didn’t mind at all. Sunday won’t be such a rush. With some extra time to prepare, I can do it up right.

It was kind of a crazy week. Wednesday night, I couldn’t get to sleep until around 2 am. At precisely 2:15, I woke up to the blaring of a car horn – not the intermittent beeps of a car alarm but a loud, continuous blast that sounded like it was coming from the parking lot below. I woke Husband, who said it wasn’t coming from a vehicle but the Civil Defense alarm. “No, dear,” I told him, “we don’t have a Civil Defense alarm that is close enough for us to hear, it is a damn horn. Now, go figure out where it’s coming from and make it stop.” Sure enough. The vehicle belonged to a tenant, who, once awakened from a deep sleep, took care of it. Temporarily. Around 5, the process had to be repeated. I got my best sleep that night between 6:45 and 7 when I got up.  Last night, it was catch up time, which, I am happy to report, went well.

Today, Husband was scheduled to have a tooth extracted at a dentist’s office in town. Shortly into the procedure, however, the dentist decided that an oral surgeon was needed, so he sent Marv packing – mouth full of Novocain – to a surgeon in Grand Forks. Husband calls me at work to tell me all of this when he’s already 50 miles down the road. “So,” I ask, “you’re going to have oral surgery and then drive yourself home?” Yup, that was his plan. Luckily, there was no anesthesia involved – not that I knew that for quite some time. Fortunately, too, he waited until he got back to town to take any painkillers. Worrying about him was not conducive to getting a lot done at work – at least until I knew he was home safe and sound.

The boys are staying with us tonight. We picked them up at daycare and took them out for supper, which was fun albeit the full soft drink that got knocked over right off the get go. One brother tipped it and felt bad. “Don’t worry, honey, it was an accident.” The other got wet and hollered like a stuck pig. “Knock it off. It’s not like it hurts or anything.” To Husband, “Go get a dishcloth. Get a mop, too. Refill the glass while I clean up the mess.”

Sigh … Laugh … Doesn’t this all sound like … life? The rest of the evening has been uneventful. Games. Hugs. Giggles. And the little guys fell fast asleep within minutes of saying their prayers.

I am looking forward to a busy – but calm – weekend. How about you? What are you doing? Cameron went all out on the boys’ Halloween costumes this year – Jango Fett and Bobo Fett minus the blasters, which wouldn’t have been appropriate for school. The kids were thrilled anyway. I’ll have to get some photos on Sunday. For now, it’s back to my corner for a little stamping session before bed. Hope to see you again on Simple Saturday. In the meantime, take care, and as always, thanks for stopping by.

Autumn Passages

Hello, blogosphere! Here’s my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #131. I don’t know if there is much to say about the construction of my card other than I colored my images with sponges and ink from my stamp pads. Additionally, the pumpkin is mounted to the square with foam tape. Speaking of pumpkin, several of the stamp companies are making dies that coordinate with the stamps they offer like the set I used from Prickley Pear. They are pretty cool.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Chocolate cardstock; Passages paper packet; Chocolate, New England Ivy, Autumn Terracotta, Olive, and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distressing Ink stamp pads; Prickley Pear Clearly Beautiful Pumpkins stamp set; KaiserKraft pearl accents; Round sponges; Cuttlebug w/Prickley Pear Pumpkin die and Nestabilities Lacey Squares; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; 3M foam mounting tape.

A Slice of Life: How are you doing? I hope you are having a great weekend. I had a lazy day. With workplace woes getting the best of me, I don’t have energy or enthusiasm for much of anything right now. Every few days, I give myself a little pep talk to get me off my duff for a day or two. I need to do that tonight, as we are entertaining for our oldest son’s 32nd birthday tomorrow. I need to figure out a menu and then get my backside to the grocery store first thing tomorrow morning. It will work out.

Again, I hope your weekend is awesome. Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comments. They are always so appreciated.

Today is a Gift

Beautiful words and so true. The card is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #130.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Cocoa, Barn Red, and Sunset cardstock; Olivia Level 2 paper packet; Cocoa and Bamboo ink pads; The Present stamp set; KaiserKraft pearl accents; Martha Stewart Large Butterfly punch; Sanding block; Foam sponge tool.

A Slice of Life: Last week was one of emotional overload – so much so, I pretty much made myself sick. Thus, Friday ended up being a day of rest and on Saturday, I got up and started walking forward again. Along the way, however, I must have bent over or picked up something (a laundry basket perhaps) the wrong way, because I  “jarred” my back, which caused me to move slowly and carefully for the rest of the weekend. While I don’t feel like doing cartwheels or anything, it feels better today.

As for overload, sometimes it seems as if it is easier to deal with the big things than it is a lot of little things. Or, perhaps one should deal with the little things as they arise, because then, they would not accumulate and turn into something more than they are. Who knows? Certainly not me. If I had it all figured out, I’d be writing a syndicated advice column and doing interviews on Oprah. LOL.

Husband started his annual truck-driving sugar beet gig on Friday. Just as I was thinking today about the fact that they had gone for four days in a row without rain, they shut down at noon today, because it is too warm for the beets to be piled. They will spoil. Too hot. Too cold. Too wet. What a touchy crop and a good example of why I had no desire to be a farmer and/or a farm wife. LOL.

I am incredibly busy at work. I was informed they are hoping they will have new people hired so I can start my new job by mid-November. It cannot be soon enough for me. While I have done my best to make the best of a bad situation these past few months, now that I know I am soon out of there, I am chomping at the bit.

This is a photo of the wool felt table runner I mentioned a few weeks ago. I finally finished it yesterday – not because it was difficult but rather because I am such a pathetic perfectionist, I had ripped out that blanket stitching around the edges about a hundred times before finally making up my mind to just “do it.” Once that determination was made it was fun, and although it is really a very simple project, I really felt as though I had accomplished something when it was finished.

How have you been? I hope you forgive me for not only being a bad blogger but a lousy blogging buddy. I am going to visit everyone this evening and am anxious catch up on what you have been doing. I hope my visits find everyone healthy, happy, and creating up a storm. Take care, friends, and thanks for stopping by.

A Few More Cards

Rummaging through my basketful of Basic Grey paper pads last night, I came across Archaic and hoped I would have occasion to use it again soon. When I saw the sketch for C4C55 on the Crazy for Challenges blog, I thought of the Archaic papers and “Harold,” a digi image in my file.

Is Harold a dinosaur or a dragon? I have been thinking he is a dinosaur but wonder if he isn’t a dragon. Regardless, he’s kind of cute.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Cocoa cardstock; Basic Grey Archaic 6x6-inch paper pad; Autumn Terracotta and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distressing Ink stamp pads; “Harold” digital image from DigiStamp Boutique; Happy Birthday stamp set; Autumn Terracotta Bigger Brads; Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag Edger punch; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Sponge dauber; 1 and 1-1/4-inch circle punches; Sanding block; 3M foam mounting tape.

Here’s another card that features me and one of my pals. Are there any frizzy-haired redheads out there who like martinis? It could be you. LOL. I used the sketch from Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #128 again.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Bamboo, Black, and Holiday Red cardstock; Silhouette Creative Basics; Black, Twilight, and Chocolate ink pads; Autumn Terracotta, Garden Green, Holiday Red, Baby Pink, Grey Flannel, Desert Sand, Sweet Leaf, and Tombow #580 Flesh markers; Emerson Quillin "The Gals" rubber stamp from American Art Stamps; Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp set; Red satin ribbon and black button from my stash; Ecru crochet cotton; Dove blending pen. Martha Stewart Double Layered Arches border punch.

I didn’t know for a while if I would end up showing you this card or not. Photographing the “glass” was a challenge. Speaking of challenges, this card meets the requirements for two – first, Stamp Simply Challenge #157 – Cracked Glass on the No Time to Stamp? blog and secondly, Unscripted Sketches #73.

A tutorial for the Cracked Glass technique can be found here. While I finally managed to get a photo that isn’t all glare, it does not do the card justice. Another PIP! Oh, and the sentiment is going on the inside, as I couldn’t come up with a bright idea with regard to what to do on the outside of the card. The ribbon was red and white, which wouldn’t do, so I “unwhitened” it with Antique Linen Distressing Ink.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, New England Ivy, and Desert Sand cardstock; Graphic 45 paper from the Communiqué Collection; Black and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distressing Ink stamp pads; Holiday Red, Cranberry, Brown Bag, and Garden Green markers; Cranberry gingham ribbon; Stampin’ Up Pewter Jumbo Brads; Crop-O-Dile; Ultra-thick clear embossing powder; Embossing heat tool.

A Slice of Life: It has been a lazy restful day. Tonight, I am going to visit Mom. I’m taking my felt project with me. I discovered that after not having sewed for so many years, I don’t have a scissors fit for fabric. I hope your day was wonderful and you are looking forward to the week to come. Take care, friends, and thanks for stopping.

You Make Me Smile

Happy Friday! Tonight’s card is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #128.  I don’t know that there is a single thing to say about it that will not be revealed in the Materials & Tools list, so I will spare you. LOL.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Holiday Red cardstock; DCWV Indian Summer Fall Matstack; Black and Star Spangled Blue ink pads; Whipper Snapper Designs Pete stamp; Hero Arts Thinking of You stamp set; Red/white mini check ribbon from Wal-Mart; Red mini brads; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Soft Chalks; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch.

A Slice of Life: In need of some R&R, I am really glad it is Friday. I am hoping the mailman brings me the supplies for a non-stamping craft project I want to do this weekend – a very simple wool felt appliquéd table runner that I will show you when it’s complete … if it turns out. I’ve been feeling the urge to do something different lately and thought this easy project I found in Create & Decorate magazine might be a good place to start. Hanging out with the little guys was fun this evening. School must wear them out, however, because it certainly does not take them long to fall asleep at bedtime these days – a good thing. Asked what the best thing about school is, they both responded quickly and gave the same answer. It’s recess! Their answers did not surprise me. In a few years, it will be girls. Some things do not change.

While the house is quiet, I am going to sneak back to my corner for a little more stamp therapy before bedtime. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by! Your visits and kind comments are appreciated.

Self Portrait

Yup. This would be me. Multicolor hair. Kind of boney, especially through the shoulders. Absolutely no cleavage. A rather blank look on my face. Coffee cup in hand, wondering how in the hell-o so many years have gone by so fast. It seems as though I was young, and then, I was old with nothing in between. I think raising adolescents had something to do with missing those in between years.

Being serious, the card is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #127. It also meets the criteria for Crazy for Challenges C4C54 – a black, red, and kraft color challenge. I love the stamp. It makes me laugh.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Black, Cranberry, and Stampin’ Up Kraft cardstock; Silhouette paper packet; Black, Brown Bag, Twilight, and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink stamp pads; Grey Flannel, Holiday Red, Bamboo, and Tombow Flesh #580 markers; Dove blending pen; Silver gel pen; American Art Stamps Young Voice stamp; Cranberry grosgrain ribbon; Cuttleblug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Sponge dauber.

A Slice of Life: Have I mentioned that fall seems to have arrived in Minnesota? The days are cool. It is downright cold at night. We’re hoping it warms up a bit one of these days … for a little while, at least. This morning held the promise of a nice day until it clouded up, and the wind started to blow. If the sun comes out again, it will be a nice afternoon.

Mom and I went out for lunch and did a little shopping downtown before I came home to get ready for the wedding we’re attending at 4 pm.

The memory of the 9-11 tragedy has not escaped me today. I remember. We all need to remember.

I’ll leave you with a wish that you are safe and as Abe Lincoln once said, as happy as you’ve made up your mind to be. Take care, friends.

All Seasons Sweet

Here is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #125. We noticed this weekend that the leaves are just so barely starting to turn color. It’s coming to that time of year.

I stamped my leaves using the stamp rolling technique. The combinations were Autumn Terracotta and Cranberry, Goldrush and Autumn Terracotta, and Sunflower and Goldrush. Why I didn’t stamp the leaves directly onto the background, I don’t know. Instead, I stamped them on a separate piece of cardstock and cut them out. To give the plain paper some texture, I used the Saran Wrap technique on the Autumn Terracotta card base. The sentiment was mounted to the card with foam tape.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, and Cocoa cardstock; Autumn Terracotta, Cranberry, Goldrush, Sunflower, Cocoa, and Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink ink pads; Close To My Heart Nature’s Vein, Air Mail (retired), and Impression Obsession Count Your Blessings stamp sets; Sunflower mini brads; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

A Slice of Life: If today was any indication, it is going to be another fast week. This evening, we drove out to Dustin and Miranda’s house to check on their progress. I think my son, however, must have Little Red Hen Syndrome, as I keep offering to help, and he keeps saying (more or less), “I will do it myself.” LOL. With what is left of the evening, I’m going to stamp a little and then take a relaxing bath before I hit the sheets.

I hope your Monday was a good one, too. Thanks for stopping by.

Bear with Me …

… but I just had to make one more card with the “Beary Best’ set and Back Country papers that are from last year and used (by me) for the first time ever yesterday. Why did I think I did not love these papers? This is one of my favorite color combinations. Oh well. So, I foolishly deprived myself for a year…

The card is my adaptation of Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #123. As you can see, I created a little scene. The images were colored with a blending pen and ink from my stamp pads.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy, Colonial White, Bamboo, Outdoor Denim, and Olive cardstock; Back Country paper packet; Black, Bamboo, Heavenly Blue, Brown Bag, Chocolate, Grey Wool, Outdoor Denim, Sunny Yellow, Sunflower, and Orange ink pads; Dove blending pen; Beary Best stamp set; Basic Craft Buttons; Ribbon from Michael’s; Orange Peel Stickles; Stapler; Cloud stencil; Round sponge; Sponge daubers; Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag Edger punch; Black My Legacy Writer.

A Slice of Life: It was another hot day in Minnesota with temperatures in the 90s. Thank goodness for air conditioning. While it is only used a few weeks out of the year, I am quite certain I would perish without it. Husband was going to turn it off last night but heeded my order, “Leave it alone!” My workday was busy and productive, and with plenty of pending stuff, I don’t anticipate a break in the action tomorrow. And work was pretty much it for the day. With the exception of a little stamping session and heating up leftovers for supper, I have remained relatively stationary this evening. Hot is an excuse to be lazy for Northerners who are not used to it. LOL.

I hope your your week got off to a great start, too. Thank you so much for your visits and comments. They are what keep me coming back!

Fun on the 4th of July

My idea of fun anyway! Last night, I went through the challenge blogs, made a list and between then and now, have made a few cards. I thought about posting them one-by-one, maybe saving a couple for the inevitable day when I either can’t get here or have no mojo, but then I thought, what the heck… And so, here you are!

This first card is the byproduct of a personal challenge – to use up some of the squares I cut for the quilt card I made the other day.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Crystal Blue cardstock; Sweet Harmony paper packet (retired); Crystal Blue and Blush ink pads; Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp set; Martha Stewart Doily Lace edger punch; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder; Sponge daubers.

 

This next card is my take on FTL97 featured this week on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog. After waiting for a backorder, I finally got my hot little hands on Tim Holtz’s Tattered Florals die.

The flowers were made with Baby Pink cardstock that I sponged with Blush ink and ran through the paper corrugator multiple times to both soften up the paper and give my flowers some texture. The card base is textured white cardstock.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy Textured and Black cardstock; Black and Blush ink pads; CTMH Gracious Greetings stamp set; Buttons from my stash; Black/White mini check ribbon from Wal-Mart; White embroidery tread; Cuttlebug w/Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Florals BigZ Sizzix die; Sponge dauber; Fiskars paper corrugator.

 

This card is my adaptation of Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #119. I inked my stamp with markers with the intentions of spritzing it with water to create a watercolor look. The problem was, when the time came, no water bottle was to be found. Thus, I huffed … and huffed … and huffed until I was darned near lightheaded. Lucky me. The image came out OK. To add a little texture, I stamped the background of my image with my Speckled Background stamp and used a sponge dauber to add some Bamboo ink around the edges.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Olive cardstock; Basic Grey Origins 6x6-inch paper pad; Olive and Bamboo ink pads; Sunflower, Olive, and Cocoa markers; Stampin’ Up Inspired by Nature and CTMH Happy Birthday stamp sets; CTMH Speckled Background stamp (retired); Antiqued Copper mini brads; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; Sponge dauber.

 

 

 

I was intrigued by CPS #174 on the Card Positioning Systems blog and thought the sketch would be a bigger challenge than it turned out to be.

I stamped some images on my script patterned paper with Bamboo ink – kind of collage style. Deciding how to embellish a rather plain, monochromatic card proved to be the greatest challenge. I ended up piercing around the perimeter of the stamped background piece and adding three mini brads before calling it “good enough.” Best of all, I actually like the way it turned out.

Materials & Tools: Colonial white and Cocoa cardstock; Passages paper packet; Bamboo and Cocoa ink pads; CTMH Live Inspired stamp set; Antiqued copper mini brads; Piercing Tool; Stampin’ Up Piercing Guide & Mat; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Sponge dauber.

 

 

 

 

When I saw C4C44 – a challenge to use two or more ribbons – on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog, I remembered a favorite sentiment stamp and knew immediately what I wanted to do.

It cannot be a surprise that the card base is White Daisy textured cardstock – my favorite for CAS. And, I’m sure you know, too, I love this card – the colors, the message, the clean and simple style.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy Textured cardstock; Ocean ink pad; Verve Stamps Asian Flair stamp set; Striped ribbon from reasonableribbon.com; Grosgrain ribbons from Wal-Mart; Gemstones from Wal-Mart; Liquid Glass.

 

So, if you are wondering what else I’ve done so far today, the answer would be, “Not much.” LOL. I have managed to make a bit of a mess in my corner, and I am struggling to stay cool. After several days of temperatures in the high 80s and lower 90s, it’s dropped to 79 degrees today – cool enough that husband doesn’t think the air conditioner is necessary. As I type, I have two loud, annoying fans blowing hot air at me. Men get the dumbest notions in their heads sometimes, don’t they?

Tonight, we are going to a small town about 30 miles from here for a concert. It’s Oklee’s centennial celebration, and our friend, Jack Sundrud, has returned to his hometown from Nashville and will be performing. I guess that means I will have to comb my hair. LOL.

What are you up to? If you are out and about, I hope you are safe and enjoying yourself. If you’re relishing time at home like me, I hope you are having as much fun as I am. Take care, friends, and as always, thank you for stopping by.

Happy, Happy Friday!

What a glorious day!

This evening’s card is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #111. I don’t know that there is a lot to say about the card that the photograph doesn’t reveal. It came together very quickly, which I attribute to its simplicity and Close To My Heart’s wonderful matching papers, stamps, and embellishments. The fact that I am flying high this evening may have had something to do with it as well.

Materials & Tools: Vanilla Cream, Juniper, and Garden Green cardstock; Veranda Creative Basics Collection; Cocoa, Crème Brule, Juniper, and Garden Green stamp pads; So Sweet stamp set; Crème Brule Bigger Brads; EK Success corner rounder; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; 1/2-inch circle punch; 3M foam mounting tape.

Have I mentioned that much of the grass is green in the frozen tundra – that the trees are leafing out? Remember how I complained about having no leaves on the trees last year as we were heading toward the end of June? It’s been cool and rainy for the past couple of day, and albeit there are a few more gloomy, rainy days in the forecast, there is little doubt it will be bright and beautiful once the sun shines again.

I come here tonight with a wonderful secret I cannot share… yet… Additionally, during the past few days, I have been working on an idea, which while I am not ready to talk about it publicly, is one that has the potential to take me to (or better said, bring me back) to where I want to be. I cannot remember a time when I have been so excited and filled with hope. My brainchild will require a lot of time and hard work, which will be OK. If it works out, the end result will be worth it, and I will once again be doing something I deem to have meaning. Even if my idea does not fly or fly as high as I want it to, it will be good for my having tried. After starting to believe the cold, corporate world had sucked the last morsels of enthusiasm and ambition out of me, just to have a dream again feels nothing short of phenomenal.

Now, for a little news that isn’t quite so mysterious. Tomorrow morning, Bjorn and Mathias are boarding a plane with their mom, her husband, and their maternal grandparents bound for Florida and a week at Disney World. Talk about enthusiasm, those were two excited little boys when we had our eight hugs and eight kisses this afternoon. They are about to have an adventure of a lifetime. As for their daddy, grandpa, and me, we’ve never been more than a few hours away from them, so having them so far away leaves us (and especially daddy) feeling a tiny bit apprehensive. I think that is understandable. We’ll just have to get busy, which will make the week go by fast.

If you’re still with me, thank you for listening. I’m thinking that in the future, I may well have more interesting things to share – something more than the standard, “My day was OK.” LOL. There will be those, too, I’m sure.

What are you doing this weekend? Anything exciting? I have a paint project in mind – one I’ve talked about before but have procrastinated actually doing. I’ll save the specifics until it’s done just in case I get sidetracked or more truthfully, find an excuse to put it off a little longer. Husband and I had dinner at a new Mexican restaurant tonight. The food was excellent. My margarita superb. Typical of me with a full stomach, I want to go to bed. LOL.  With that I’m off to go lie down, watch some TV, and see how long it takes the sandman to make his appearance.

I hope your weekend is wonderful. “See” you tomorrow for Simple Saturday!

Friday Fun

I don’t know what anyone else will think about this card, but I had so much fun making it, I don’t really give a hoot! Actually, I’m kidding. Me and my ego hope you like it. LOL. It was fun though – my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #109 – a sketch, that were the mojo not flowing (somewhat at least), would give me fits.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Chocolate cardstock; Basic Grey Origins 6x6-inch paper pad; Chocolate, Brown Bag, Garden Green, Cocoa, Bamboo, and Honey ink pads; Chocolate, Cocoa, Brown Bag, and Honey markers; Close To My Heart You’re a Hoot stamp set; Chocolate grosgrain ribbon; Googly eyes from my stash; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Sponge daubers; Sanding block.

Happy, happy Friday! It’s so good to be home. It’s going to be a wonderful evening at our house with games, stories, and lots and lots of hugs. Grandpa’s got spaghetti ready for supper, too. Maybe I’ll be nice and do the dishes. LOL.

Whatever you have planned, I hope you are looking forward to the weekend as much as I am. For now, I’d better run. Perhaps, I can help set the table, too. Take care, friends, and thanks for stopping by!

Challenge Cards

This first card is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #107.  The umbrella was paper-pieced, and the ducks were stamped on Sunny Yellow cardstock. After coloring their feet and beaks with an Orange marker, I ran my Sunny Yellow marker around the outside of the image to give them a little extra dimension. A pair of paper-pieced boots and an extra duck decorate the lower right corner of the inside of the card. One last thing – the forward-facing ducks were adhered to the card with foam mounting tape.

Materials & Tools: Vanilla Cream, Sorbet, Sunny Yellow, and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Caboodle paper packet; Black and Sorbet ink pads; Sunny Yellow and Sorbet markers; Close To My Heart Springtime and Verve Stamps Thankful Hearts stamp sets; Sorbet Designer Ribbon Rounds; Sorbet and Crystal Blue mini brads; Piercing tool; Black My Legacy Writer; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

This second card is my modified version of Unscripted Sketches #49. It also meets the criteria for Stamp Simply #133 – Chipboard as featured on the No Time to Stamp? blog. The cherries are a digital image from Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff that I colored with markers. The leaf was cut freehand, folded lengthwise, and run through my paper corrugator. I used a chipboard bookplate (or part of one) to frame my sentiment. The color on the bookplate was added with a round sponge.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Cocoa, and New England Ivy cardstock; Graphic 45 Times Nouveau Collection Bee’s Knees paper; Close To My Heart Veranda paper packet; Cocoa and Bamboo ink pads; Holiday Red and Garden Green markers; Digital Image from Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff; CTMH Noted Backgrounds and Sweet Baby stamp sets; Chipboard bookplate; Antiqued Copper mini brad; Paper corrugator; Piercing tool; Sanding block; Round sponge; Sponge dauber.

Another day, another dollar… or two. LOL. I’m glad to be home where there is a pile of laundry that I didn’t get to on the weekend waiting for my attention. With the hope that yours was a good day, too, I’ll let you go. Take care, friends, and as always, thank you for stopping by! Later …

Nothing Better…

… Than starting out the weekend with a sketch challenge. This card is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #106. Unlike the cards I’ve made using digital images this week, this one is all stamped.

The background was created with my Friend Definition stamp stamped with Bamboo ink. I stamped the branch from the “A Tweet” set with Garden Green ink and then filled in what I interpreted to be the wood part of the branches with my Chocolate marker. I stamped the bird with Goldrush ink on the background piece before stamping it again with Twilight ink on a scrap of Colonial White cardstock. I cut out the bird and its “freehand” wing, inking their edges with Desert Sand to add some depth. I also used a foam texture tool to daub some ink around the edges of the focal point piece and the three one-inch squares I’d stamped with a stamp from the Noted Backgrounds set. After attaching the bird’s body, I used a 1/16th inch pop dot to attach its wing. Make sense? I hope so.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Cocoa, and Twilight cardstock; Topstitch paper packet; Bamboo, Desert Sand, Cocoa, Garden Green, Goldrush, and Twilight ink pads; Chocolate marker; Hero Arts Friend Definition stamp; Close To My Heart A Tweet, Noted Backgrounds, and Springtime stamp sets; Antiqued Copper brads and Mini Medley Accents Collection; Foam Texture Tool; EK Success 1/16th inch “pop dot.”

Happy Friday! While it was an OK workweek, I had no qualms about heading for home this afternoon. LOL. I have no specific plans for the weekend with the exception of helping Dustin write a 1,000-word biography that outlines his work history. Just like his mama thought he would, he pulled off the aptitude test he took last night. His credit score checked out, and as he already has FBI clearance for a government account he is involved with and has never had as much as a parking ticket, he is confident he will pass a criminal background check. On Monday, he is going to Minneapolis for a seminar on Tuesday, which is the next step in the hiring process. His dad and I are so excited for him.

And, I’m not the only blogger with good news this week. If you haven’t done so already, you need to congratulate Alanna for having passed the final part of her CPA exam and Kari whose daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby boy today. Life is good!

Tonight, I’m going to straighten up my corner, so I can have fun messing it up again. Enjoy your weekend, friends, and if you’re not too busy, stop back to see what I’ve drummed up for Simple Saturday. Later …

Spring Greetings

This week’s Stamp Simply #130 on the No Time to Stamp? blog is a color challenge – to make a card or stamped project using the colors pink and green. The sketch is my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #104.

My image was stamped on watercolor paper and then colored with a waterbrush and Lyra Aquacolor crayons. I have had a set of 48 of these crayons for years and up until this evening, had yet to use them. While I am certain there is much room for improvement, I’m not entirely unhappy with my first try. And, aside from the image, I’m surprised this card looks as good as is does for as many times as it was pulled apart and put back together again. Some days are like that.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Sweet Leaf cardstock; Daydream paper packet; Black ink pad; Penny Black Bunny Kiss stamp and Impression Obsession Sentiments II stamp set; White mini brads; Sweet Leaf Designer Ribbon Rounds; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; Lyra Aquacolor crayons; Waterbrush; 3M foam mounting tape.

Do you have plans for the weekend? It’s going to be a busy one for me – everything from cleaning and laundry to bookwork and getting electronic equipment up and running. For what is left of the evening, however, I am going to kick back and relax. I hope you have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Almost Spring Chicken

A yen to color was the inspiration for this card, my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #102.

I used a combination of colored pencils and OMS and markers to color this cute chick. Her umbrella was paper-pieced. I’m loving the colors of the Caboodle paper packet – so springy!

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Crystal Blue cardstock; Caboodle paper packet; Black and Juniper ink pads; Holiday Red and Brown Bag markers; Whipper Snapper Designs Springtime Rain Chick stamp and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp set; Crystal Blue mini brads; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Black My Legacy Writer; Dove blending pen.

How was your day? Mine was, for the most part, uneventful. Tonight, my aim is to keep it that way with a little stamping and then, a good night’s sleep. I gotta rest up, so I can bowl like a rock star tomorrow night. LOL. 

Thank you for the encouraging comments and your visits. You’ve got to know they mean the world to me. Enjoy the evening! Later …

Starting the Weekend Out Right!

With a fun sketch – my take on Taylored Expressions Challenge Sketch #101. I love sketch challenges and am always a happy camper when I have the chance to participate. This weekend, I hope to get to a few more.

Aren’t the spring-like colors in Close To My Heart’s Caboodle paper packet fun?

Materials & Tools: Vanilla Cream, Crystal Blue, and Sweet Leaf (textured) cardstock; Caboodle paper packet; Black, Crystal Blue, Chocolate, Brown Bag, Sorbet, Sweet Leaf, Sunflower, Buttercup, and Juniper ink pads; Love You Forever and Togetherness stamp sets; Crystal Blue mini brads; Black My Legacy Writer; Dove blending pen; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch.

Wow! I don’t usually say this, but this past week has really flown by. I don’t suppose I can expect the clock to slow down for the weekend either. Heaven knows, I’ll be slowing down my pace a bit though in a effort to stretch it out just as long as I can.

Do you have plans? I’m going to do the usual domestic stuff, spend some time with the little guys, and prepare for my stamp club group, which meets on Sunday evening. It will be a full, but fun, weekend. Tonight, I’m going to go straighten up my corner a bit. It’s a mess … again.

Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to stop back tomorrow for Simple Saturday. Later…

Faith is …

Here’s my take on Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #97. The stamp, a favorite Bible verse, is one from Verve Stamp’s Plain Janes collection. I hadn’t used it prior to today, not because I didn’t want to but because I’d “misplaced” it. Tells ya something, doesn’t it? LOL.

The patterned paper is from Close To My Heart’s “Key To My Heart” collection, last year’s Heart of Winter promotion. There isn’t much to say that isn’t obvious with the exception that I’m not crazy about what my camera did to the colors. In real life, Papertrey Ink’s Berry Sorbet twill ribbon is not nearly as pink as it appears in the photo nor does my “Stickled” Sorbet butterfly have an orange hue. Sigh…

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Juniper, and Tulip cardstock; CTMH Key To My Heart  paper packet (retired); Juniper ink pad; Verve Stamps Faith Is … Plain Janes stamp; PTI Berry Sorbet twill ribbon; Kaiser Kraft pearl accents; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set; 3M foam mounting tape.

Whoa! Another weekend almost over. That’s a bummer. It was a good day though. The little guys were here this morning, and this afternoon, I had lunch and, later, coffee with my Mom and two of my sisters, who came to town to do some shopping. As I got up at 6:30 am after only five hours or so of sleep, I have a feeling I will be clonking out early tonight. Tomorrow, it’s back to the 9 to 5 world.

I hope your weekend was a good one, too. Thank you for your visits and kind words. They always mean so much! Later…

Christmas in the Air

Here’s my take on Weekend Sketch Challenge 109 from the fresh & fun blog.

The chipboard snowflake is new from Close To My Heart. I love that CTMH’s chipboard is white. All I had to do was glue and glitter. To attach the snowflake to my card, I cut narrow pieces of foam tape for each of the “spokes” and added a small square piece to the middle. While I’m not sure about the rhinestone, the snowflake should survive a trip in the mail.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Hollyhock cardstock; Jingles paper packet; Hollyhock ink pad; Card Chatter-Christmas stamp set; Flurry Dimensional Elements; White Organdy Ribbon; Melissa Frances Attic Treasures Rhinestone; Martha Stewart “Snow” glitter; Fiskars Sunburst border punch; 3M foam mounting tape.

This next card is my adaptation of Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #93.  The plaid paper was created by adding lines to the gingham, using a marker and ruler. Whatever am a gonna do when my stash of gingham is finally depleted? Find some more somewhere I guess! LOL.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Outdoor Denim cardstock; Retired Cranberry Gingham paper; Black and Cranberry ink pads; Outdoor Denim, Cranberry, Orange, Baby Pink, Sunflower, Grey Wool, and Brown Bag markers; Snow Friends and Peace on Earth stamp sets;  Outdoor Denim grosgrain ribbon; Crystal Stickles; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; Cuttlebug w/Snowflakes embossing folder; 3M foam mounting tape.

We decorated for Christmas today – kind of a big job in our tiny abode where, to move anything in, we have to move an equal amount of stuff out. LOL. All done, it looks nice.

As for the blogosphere this weekend, it’s a bit like a ghost town. ‘Tis the season to be busy! A great time so long as we all remember to pause every now and then – long enough to take it all in and appreciate it.

Have a great week, my friends! Later…

A Few Sketch Challenge Cards

Here’s my take on last week’s Mojo Monday Week 110 sketch. As for the card, I can’t think of a thing to say that “the list” wont explain.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Olive, and Honey cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Mini Deck; Black, Olive, and Twilight ink pads; Sunflower, Cranberry, and Grey Flannel markers; Whipper Snapper Designs Standing Chicken stamp; Impression Obsession Anytime Sentiments stamp set; Stampin’ Up Old Olive grosgrain ribbon; Dove blending pen; Spring chalks; Sponge dauber; Fiskars Apron Lace border punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Ovals set.

This is my card for Weekend Sketch Challenge #104 as posted on the Fresh & Fun blog. Again, not a whole lot to say about the card.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Cocoa cardstock; Basic Grey Indian Summer 6x6-inch pad; Cocoa, Honey, Orange, and Autumn Terracotta stamp pads; Renaissance by Design Roots & Wings stamp set; Brad from my stash; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

Finally, here is my adaptation of Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #89. I colored “Megan" with colored pencils and OMS and paper-pieced her top.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Sorbet, and Cocoa cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Mini Deck; Black and Cocoa ink pads; Whipper Snapper Designs Megan stamp; Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamp set; Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; 1 and 1-1/4 inch circle punches; 3M foam mounting tape.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Out last night, I was more than glad to retrieve the hour we lost last week and get an extra hour of sleep. With that, I’m off to face the “busyness” of the day! Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Peace & Plenty

Here is my take on Weekend Sketch Challenge #102 as featured on the Fresh & Fun blog. I colored my image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, and Cocoa cardstock; CTMH Retired Abundance paper packet; Black, Cocoa, Bamboo, and Twilight ink pads; Waltzingmouse Stamps Peace and Plenty stamp set; Gold mini brads; Stampin’ Up Old Olive grosgrain ribbon; Cuttlebug w/Autumn embossing folder and Nestabilities Classic Circles set; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol odorless mineral spirits; Blending stumps; Dove blending pen; Sponge dauber; 3M foam mounting tape.

This next card is my adaptation of the sketch for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #87. Again, my image was colored with Prismacolor pencils.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta, Cocoa, and Olive cardstock;  CTMH Retired Abundance paper packet; Black and Cocoa ink pads; Waltzingmouse Peace and Plenty stamp set; Gold mini brads; Piercing tool; Fiskars Apron Lace punch; Cuttlebug w/Nestabilities Classic Circles set.

How’s your weekend going? I’m doing OK, although the clock seems to be moving faster than it does during the week. This afternoon, I’m preparing a project for stamp club tonight in between loads of laundry. I’m looking for to this evening and wish the laundry would do itself. LOL. That’s it for now. As always, thanks for stopping by! Later …