Winter Ya'll

 

I've grown to love orange.

It's my husband's favorite color. ;)

Picket Fence Studios A Gnome Winter, Technique Tuesday snowflake dies, My Favorite Things Lip Balm frame die,Reverse Confetti Patterned Paper (Abundant Autumn/This & That)

Simon Says (Wednesday): Stamp It In STAMPtember

Simon Says Stamp IG Challenge: Stamp on It

Have a good one!

Winter Tree

 

Picket Fence Studios The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Papertrey Ink In the Meadow small snowflake die/Saffron Spice ink & cardstock, Technique Tuesday Bubbles on the Border/Snowflake dies

Allsorts Challenge #587: Going Around in Circles

Thanks for stopping by today!

Paper Hug Butterflies

I stamped a bunch of butterflies one quarantine day (can't tell you when, because the days have all run together ;) ).

I connected four companies here: My Favorite Things images, Picket Fence Studios sentiment, Brutus Monroe stencil, Technique Tuesday die.

I love when that happens. ;)

My Favorite Things Brilliant Brilliant Butterflies/ Picket Fence Studios A Paper Hug, Brutus Monroe Wood Cuts Stencil, Technique Tuesday Bubbles on the Border die

Yay for this challenge!

 Simon Says (Wednesday): Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today!

wOnDeRfUlLy AvErAgE dAy

The Play Date Cafe #183

I'm so grateful for ordinary days.

When my husband retired from the Army 5 years ago...I rejoiced in the fact that we could finally have the "average".

The melody of his tires coming up the driveway...even the rhythm of the trashcan being dragged down the road (by him, not me) is SWEET and oh so PRECIOUS.

"Hey hon, can you get this BIG BUG for me???" I squeal...batting my eyelashes.

He rolls his eyes, because he knows that I can handle these "muscle man" jobs...but to have him around to do them...

IT'S SO SPECIAL!

sigh.

He's my prince. ;)

"YOU'RE MY HERO!!!" I yell after he's rescued me from these killer insects.

He may not be saving the world at the moment, like so many dedicated soldiers, 

but HE IS at home saving mine.

I APPRECIATE and RECOGNIZE the sacrifices of so many military, missionary, and "out of the ordinary" families that crave...

and HOLD OUT for the days when their lives will be ordinary and average.

We lived that roller coaster lifestyle for quite awhile.

There are so many who won't have ordinary again~because of the death of their loved one.

Treasure the ordinary and average.

For some...

those days are novel and extraordinary~

stamps: Technique Tuesday Ordinary Days

ink: Papertrey Ink (New Leaf,Enchanted Evening),Memento Ink Dandelion 

other: Want2Scrap bling,Crop-A-Dile corner chomper

paper: Georgia Pacific white,Bazzill blue

~Happy New Year~

I woke up yesterday morning in a PANIC~

it was the last day of 2012.

WHAT have I done that was important???

What NEEDS to be done next year???

This is BIG....am I ready to transition???

Then, I took a DEEP BREATH and was reminded....

it's ONE MORE DAY....

~~~~ to tell Jesus I love him

~~~~ to tell my husband I love him

~~~~to hug my girlies...they KNOW I love them...but I'll tell them BECAUSE I CAN


~~~~to call my parents and ring my grandma's cowbell through the phone,   land and ocean that divide us
(I have been bestowed the honor of keeping the precious bell~I know that everyone who was around her can hear it in clanging in their memories of happy times when she was around)

~~~~~to laugh until my sides hurt ...

Lately I've been IN PAIN with giggles...totally gifts from God when silly silly things happen and there is someone RIGHT THERE to share the memories with...better yet...3 girlies who mean the world to me....

~~~~to pray....

for those who can't

for those who won't

and for those who don't know how.

Let's not freak out with over-preparing on the FIRST day of this fresh New Year...


 I want to celebrate the ordinary day.

EACH ordinary day can be wonderful

...leading up to a wonderful week


....a wonderful month



...and eventually,



another wonderful year.

 The following challenges inspired me:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #60:Faith/Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show:The totally mad (no rules) tea party

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday#202

I chose this card from challenge #196.

The theme was to make a card that makes you feel happy.



We are blessed that happiness doesn't have to fall on just the special days...

it's possible in the ordinary days too! 

 

 

 

 Here is to your NEW year and my NEW year!!!

~May the Lord bless us and keep us and fill us with His joy~

 

 

stamps: Technique Tuesday Ali Edwards Ordinary Days,Flourishes Hydrangea

ink: Memento Ink Teal Zeal,Ranger Tim Holtz Peeled Paint

die: Spellbinders Label 25

other: Ellison Tim Holtz Rays embossing folder,Georgia Pacific white cardstock,Bazzill blue dot cardstock,Little Yellow Bicycle Acorn Hollow DP,Want2Scrap bling,white uniball pen,staple

 

LIFE is Good

I love Botanical designs in black and white.

Add some snowflakes and you've got a winter scene.

The Play Date Cafe #159

Thanks for stopping by today~

stamps: Papertrey Ink Winter Penguin snowflake circle, Technique Tuesday Life is Good sentiment,Hero Arts Sweet Threads Set florals

ink: Papertrey Ink True Black,Memento Ink Rhubarb Stalk

paper: Georgia Pacific white,Bazzill

die: Papertrey Ink Winter Penguin

The Blessing of an Ordinary Day

Appointments, commutes, lessons and the like are what ordinary days are made of.

ORDINARY, AVERAGE DAYS ~ are what make life,

well,

LIFE...

the building blocks of a home, the stairsteps to normal or a new normal.



In the midst of chaos and transition...



an ordinary lifestyle is





EXTRAORDINARY.

I used one of the beautiful sentiments from TT's Ordinary Days.

Brayed Walnut Stain distress ink on an embossing folder pulled up the retro design.


The little images/sentiments from BoBunny's Remind Me Clearly Calendar Set created the "sentiment background" for my card.

I love that they capture "ordinary" activities.

I went with the striking colors from Moxie Fab's

Tuesday Trigger: Ready for Red

DYSU #96 Brads





Crafty Friends Challenge
CFC #10 Sentimental


~I wish you an ordinary, average day my friends~

stamps: BoBunny Remind Me Clearly Calendar Stamps,Technique Tuesday/Ali Edwards Ordinary Days

embossing folder: Sizzix/Tim Holtz Retro Cirque Set
inks: Versamark, Memento Ink Rhubarb Stalk, Ranger Tim Holtz Walnut Stain
dies: Verve Pennant Trim Die, Spellbinders Scalloped Circle
paper: American Crafts Cardstock,Georgia Pacific White, Bazzill red
other: Copper embossing powder,brads,brayer

~ENJOY~

Yesterday smelled like summer & felt like summer~it was so weird!

Today looks like another chance of the same~YES!!!

One last second to

enjoy

the warmth!

This week at

CAS-ual Fridays CFC76,

the goal is to create a clean and simple project using Kraft.

The leaves may be crunchy and losing color...but we can still enjoy them~

CASE Study Challenge #114

Julia Stainton

I love the texture going on with her card!!!

I have a mini-texture strip on mine-created from a rosette die.

 Have you had a burst of sunshine in your corner of the world?

I say take it and run!



~ENJOY the sunshine and warmth while you can friends~

stamp: Technique Tuesday Fly

ink: Memento Ink Pistachio

dies: My Favorite Things Rosette Die-namics,Sizzix Sizzlits Flowers Branches Leaves

paper: Bazzill kraft and yellow,Georgia Pacific white

other: Tim Holtz Distress Tool,stapler

~Old Memories, Young Heart~

All the old-timey images are comforting.

I tend to forget, though, that history was in color!!!

It wasn't ALL serious and practical.

I know this, because I'm blessed to have my great aunt's photos.

The black and white kind!

I try to picture her and her friends  who are laughing and joking...

in color.

Was her bathing suit pink, or blue, to match her eyes?

I got this crazy idea for

Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger:Type Hype challenge.

I love the dots in Cath's Trigger:

Usually black typewriters are all SERIOUS...but this shows a bit of fun.

I'm sure the colors have a practical reason...but I pictured dots and paired them with Basic Grey Lauderdale DP.  

Throw in some 70's tye-dye TYPE and ya got crazy. ;)

I imagine this secretary is creating something colorful in her mind...or remembering the great time she had at the company party over the weekend.

I imagine in her heart...she's in color! ;)

Stamps: Technique Tuesday Inner Circle dots, Clear & Simple Circus Fun dots, October Afternoon 9 to 5 secretary

Ink: Tsukineko Memento inks ladybug and teal zeal,Ranger Tim Holtz distress mustard seed

Paper: Basic Grey Lauderdale,Georgia Pacific white cardstock

Other:sewing machine

~The Little Things~

I snagged a cute fruity notepad for 50 cents.

This resulted in a quick CAS card using a cardbase remnant.

Fun size, right?

Simon Says Stamp:Let's Get Fruity!

My colors were inspired by

Color Throwdown #200:Let's Celebrate!

I appreciate you stopping by...it always blesses me so!

Stamp: Technique Tuesday Fly!

Inks:Tsukineko Memento Ink Tangelo and Teal Zeal

Paper:Fruity notepad,Georgia Pacific white cardstock

Other:Want2Scrap bling

~Second LIM:Masking~

This week's Less Is More Challenge is a sketch!

This is my second entry.

I've seen so many beautiful submissions that entailed masking borders.

I figured this was the challenge to give it a go! ;)

(Basic Grey Tranquil,Technique Tuesday Growing Wild,Tim Holtz Distress Inks marmalade and pine,stipple brush,Creative Memories corner rounder,Copic marker for pollen,American Crafts AC cardstock)

I masked the border with post-it notes and laid some quilling strips down in a zigzag.

A stipple brush was used to apply two distress inks that were chosen for

FYI: For Your Inspiration Challenge #22.

Once again...a gorgeous photo! I can't get it out of my head.

 The greens, oranges and yellow HAD to make it onto my card.

There is no greater artist than God!

Less Is More Week 52 Sketch

Thanks for stopping by...especially if it was more than once today! ;)

I really do appreciate it.

~Papertrey Jan. Blog Hop/Happy Birthday Amanda!~

 Nichole Heady is encouraging us to look back at a favorite project from last year.



I want to share what I made for my daughter, Amanda...


HER BIRTHDAY IS TODAY! ;)

I made her this card back in December, and I needed decor for today.

(Papertrey Ink In the Meadow sentiment,Technique Tuesday Inner circle for mouth and eyes,Zig pen brown for drawing in the line,Ranger Tim Holtz spiced marmalade ink,Papertrey ink premium dye in true black,MS fringe scissors,My Mind's Eye DP Ooh La La DP,AC cardstock neutral pack,felt,Spellbinders classic circles,Sizzix die for the mouth)

Here is the banner I created, based on the card.

 


Recognize Papertrey Ink's Shape-Up Series Snowman Die?

Don't put it away yet!

My baby girl



TURNED 11!

sniff.

She is the coolest kid.

Eleven tops I want to share about my Amanda:

1.She is hilarious.  That kid will make you roll on the floor, holding your sides-because you don't want to split in two!

2.She has her own sense of SHAZAMMMM style:neon green and anything to compliment her love of green.

3.She is gifted and creative~that girl will come up with the MOST creative drawings and imaginative musings you've ever seen.

4.Determined:If you tell Amanda something is too hard for just anyone to do...she will make it her MISSION to accomplish the task.

5.Brave.She has a lion's heart. I have no doubt that child will save my life one day.

6.A sweetie pie: Amanda has a sensitive side that recognizes when someone (I) need a hug.

7.Quirky:in a really cool, "IT'S TRENDY" sort of way. She loves sock monkeys. She liked them way before they were cool and everywhere.

8.Athletic:Oh, you should've seen that kid on the soccer field. I can't believe I gave birth to a child that could run and score so naturally.

9.Beautiful. She has her Dad's gorgeous hazel eyes and lovely wavy hair that stems from her 1/2 Portuguese grandpa. Love her curls and eyes.

10.SO MUCH FUN. The party doesn't start until Amanda arrives. ;)

11. She's my baby. God gave her to me as the best birthday gift ever, 4 days before my 31st birthday.That child has given me so much joy and laughter. I am so blessed to be her mother. ;)

Thank you for stopping by and reading a mother's proud list. ;)

Enjoy Papertrey Ink's January Blog Hop!

Supplies:Papertrey Ink Shape-Up Series Snowman Die,Technique Tuesday Inner circle for mouth and eyes,Zig pen brown for drawing in the line,Staz-On pumpkin,American Crafts AC cardstock neutral pack,Spellbinders classic circles,My Mind's Eye DP,crepe paper,fishing line

~Elements~

I love graphic elements. 

I really love Moxie Fab's Get Inspired in the Kitchen challenge!

Hope it doesn't make your eyes all wonky. 

I double stamped the elements to get the lighter/darker circular frames.

I had to tone down the sentiment by coloring over the second stamping with a  light grey Copic marker.  

I was so pleased with the pattern, though.

Here is Moxie Fab's Photo:

This is also my second submission to

Less Is More Week 44-Colour 

GREEN

 

 

Take care now....

 

 

Supplies:

 

Technique Tuesday Inner Circle,Papertrey Ink Communique Curves Sentiment,Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pine,Georgia Pacific white cardstock,corner rounder

~shhhhhhhhhhh~

ok, we are whispering because my youngest, amanda, can't see this card

i usually love when she peeks over my shoulder and asks "watcha doing"

this card is for her

are you a fan of this lil' guy?

i'll be honest, i'm not (i don't get it).

however, she loves him, so i do have a fondness for the 

image of a monkey made with hosiery ;)

ok...almost done...better get this going before she sneaks up on me...

challenge:

CAS-ual Friday CFC30

how fun is this?

orange, kraft and polka dots for me....

psssst, thanks for stopping in, bye now. ;)

Supplies: 

Papertrey Ink In the Meadow sentiment,Technique Tuesday Inner circle for mouth and eyes,Zig pen brown for drawing in the line,Ranger Tim Holtz spiced marmalade ink,Papertrey ink premium dye in true black,MS fringe scissors,My Mind's Eye DP Ooh La La DP,AC cardstock neutral pack,felt,Spellbinders classic circles,Sizzix die for the mouth

~The Lord Keeps My Lamp Burning!~

The Lord keeps my lamp burning.

He turns my darkness into light.

Less Is More Week 43 Recipe-A Bit of Bling

Supplies:

Our Daily Bread Designs Keep My Lamp Burning,Technique Tuesday Inner Circle,Staz On mustard and pumpkin,Recollections bling,Georgia Pacific white cardstock

~Cupcake Umbrella~

I went to a local craft store today and fell for the biggest cupcake stamp I've ever seen!

I believe I was hungry. ;)

Isn't it yummy?

 

I "warped" the circles a bit when I stuck them to the stamp block.

 

 

They are skinny circle frames that easily bend and keep the form.

Inspirational challenges:

ColourQ Challenge 109

CAS-ual Friday CFC 27

Thank you for stopping in today. ;)

Info:

Stampendous Cupcake XL,Technique Tuesday Inner Circle,MFT Icing on the Cake,Tim Holtz Distress inks (Marmalade and Broken China),Cocktail umbrella,Copic blue and sand

~You're a Vision~

Bold colors are perfect for CAS.

 

This week's 

Less is More's Week 38

 

recipe is POLKA DOTS.

I used my most favorite ink...Staz On Fuschia pink.

It is the boldest color I have-and I look for excuses to use it. ;)

Perfect ink to backdrop this awesome paper flower from American Crafts.

I bi-colored petals with ink, overlapped them, and clear embossed the green end.

Check out this inspirational photo from FYI Challenge #16

Thank you for stopping in. ;)

Info:

Technique Tuesday Loves Me Loves me Not Large,Lawn Fawn Clear to See,American Crafts Paper Flowers Pina Colada,Staz On Fuschsia Pink

Butterfly Duo

A "simple" one layer card can be exhausting! 

I don't want to admit HOW MANY TRIES IT TOOK

to finish this.

Inky fingers and not enough pressure on the stamp made it harder than it had to be.

I had fun anyway. ;)

I stamped the butterfly twice.  Since I didn't re-ink, the second one came out lighter.

I masked each butterfly and stamped the background.

 Challenges that inspired me:

~Less is More Week 32 One Layer Seeing Double

~Just Add Ink 84 Colour Challenge (white plus one other colour)

~Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Garden Glory 

(I chose green ink to get as close as I could to the color in this picture. I really liked the clean/graphic design and tried to mirror that in my card.)

I appreciate you stopping by today. ;)

Info:

My Favorite Things Let's Go for a Walk,Teresa Collins Posh stamps,Staz On Forest Green ink

A Moving Pinwheel and Throwdown Colors

I finally used my pinwheel die to make a pinwheel.  

I've used it before, to make a faux windmill.

I used a mini craft stick for the "handle".

My border is from my Growing Wild grass stamp which I stamped multiple times with Memento's New Sprout and Rich Cocoa ink (twice...once with full application and again for a lighter look).  

It's on a strip to look interesting...I wasn't going for a realistic look.

The pinwheel is attached with a brad to the card, so it can turn however you choose.

I count that as movement...

for Less is More Week 29 - Things that Move.

My colors were inspired by Color Throwdown's 155.

Thank you for peeking in. ;)

Info:

Lil' Inker Pinwheel die, Technique Tuesday Growing Wild, Autumn Leaves Swirls V:I, Ellison Phrases- Card Sentiments, Basic Grey Lauderdale DP, Want2Scrap bling, Papertrey ink Eyelet lace border die

Recycled Butterfly and a Verse

Use something recycled and ODBD stamps for Stamping in Time #39.

This recycled item can be something from a previous project you haven't used or are reusing.

I recycled a butterfly and two die cut pieces in my stash.

I lay a black recycled strip of cardstock on white cardstock and cut out 1/3 of a CM Jumbo Blooming Star. I then "ticked" it and mounted it on a card base. I stamped some designs and mounted flower petals that were stamped on DP and cut out. 

I used a recycled cut from Spellbinders Label Four and cut a smaller piece of white to stamp the verse on.


 Look at this beautiful verse from ODBD You are the Potter.

 

I then layered another recycled portion of a Spellbinders Label Eleven to set on the black bottom strip.

A whole lot of recycling going on here! ;)

Thank you for stopping by. ;)

Info: ODBD You are the Potter, Technique Tuesday Loves Me Loves Me Not Large,Martha Stewart Butterfly stamp,Creative Memories Jumbo Blooming Star Pattern, Staz On Ink, Prismacolor Pencils, Spellbinders Labels Four, Labels Eleven