Congrats!

Hey Guys!  I'm here. It's been a busy week of card making for me.  I've got lots of stuff that I have been up to as I get ready for my daughter's birthday in a few days.  We are also making a trip to Michigan for another birthday party and next weekend is my sister's wedding.  Can I just tell you the bonehead thing that happened to me?  I decided to dye my hair last week.  Since last summer I have dyed it a few times because I notice that it starts to get really light and brassy.  So I have done just an at home thing every 3 months or so to cut down on the "highlights."  I know...what am I thinking?  Most people pay for highlights.  But it just makes me look washed out.  Well, this last dye job turned out REALLY RED.  My hubby keeps calling me "Lucy."  Which has been pretty fitting considering that I have her kind of luck, my hair is that color and curly and I've been wearing it up like that to try and hide the color.  Do you even know how bad that is going to look with this yellow dress?  UGH!  It is the last time I dye it.  Just going to go au natural from now on. Not to mention that if it is as humid in NC as it is here I'm going to look like a Brillo Pad is sitting on top of my head.  Oh the memories!  As my step dad pointed out, there will be lots of pictures to forever capture the moment.  GREAT!

To avoid any chance of catching my reflection I have been in the basement crafting and exercising.   My hubby asked me last week to make 2 baby cards for him.  Several guys he works with are having babies.  I decided to use Taylor's Sketch 110  and a bunch of scraps.  This card sketch is so great for using up scraps. In fact I had to make two cards with the sketch.

Baby card one:

 This card makes me giddy because I used a PTI set called Vintage Ornaments for the "rattle."  Yep, that's a Christmas ornament with the top cut off. This also uses the colors for Stacey's Curtain Call Act 27.  Apparently the guys at the Fire Department were really impressed with my card.  I think that is very cool when a guy likes your stuff....and says it:)
What's In It?
Stamps: Vintage Ornaments PTI, Practically Perfect Verve
Ink: Colorbox Pink, Warm Red, Cert Celery
Paper: White, scraps, Pink Pirouette
Other: Crinkle ribbon, glitter, oval and scalloped oval punch, 1 1/4" square punch

Here is my second card using this sketch:

 Again I used a bunch of scraps.  I also used a JustRite Stamper set.  It's my first one and I'm trying to get it all figured out:)  Do you see that big leaf behind my handmade flowers?  That is from Shawne's digital file called Modern Flowers.  You can find that under Nature at Studio 313 Exclusive Creations.  I will have another card this week showing you how to take those big leaves and make a masculine card.  Stay tuned for that.  I am also entering this into The Pink Elelphant Challenge  64~to use Aqua.
What's In It?
Stamps: Just Rite A Note
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Scraps
Other: Modern Flowers Digital File, Crinkle Ribbon, punch, dimensionals, scissors

Here's my last baby card.  It uses a CPS sketch from last week and some new paper I got at my LSS store.  October Afternoon is fast becoming one of my favorite lines.  I love it!  I wish I could have bought the whole Thrift Store collection.  Stamps, chipboard, rub ons.....oh!   I showed restraint and just got the paper...for now:)

 
 This card came together so quickly.  I paper pieced that little Teddy.  All the stamps are from Hampton Art.  All the crinkle ribbon you see on my cards today was made by me.  I'm thinking of putting some up for sale here on the blog.  Stay tuned for that.
What's In It?
Stamps: Hampton Art
Ink: Black Memento, antique linen
Paper: Thrift Shop Collection
Other: dimensionals, corner rounder, crinkle ribbon, PTI button

I'll be back tomorrow with a Card for PWCO and one other random post.  See you then!

Thank You for the Difference

I know that I've been really quiet this week.  It's been very hectic in my life at the moment.  I have many things to share today.  It's actually a bit of an emotional week for me.

A few weeks ago I got a call from my dad.  Normally a conversation with my dad is full of fun and laughter.  However, this was not one of those calls.  My dad informed me that he has prostate cancer and will be undergoing surgery next week.  While I believe the prognosis is good I am asking that you all please pray for my dad.  While this is all very difficult,  it is compounded by the fact that his wife has Alzheimer's and he is the one that takes care of her.  Now he needs someone to take care of both of them for a few weeks.  I am so lucky to have a wonderful husband ( who has a wonderful boss) who is willing to take time off work to be a Stay at Home Dad for a few weeks.  I will be leaving next Wednesday to go stay with my dad for two weeks to take care of him, as well as, his wife.  You can say a prayer for me too please!  I'm not sure I will be that great of a nurse, but I'm all he's got at this point.  So, he'll just have to suck it  up...LOL.  My dad is a very positive, upbeat person.  He has a great attitude towards all of this.  My quote this week at the top of my blog is in his honor:)

  Also, this is the first time I have ever been away from my kids for so long.  I think we will all need quite a few prayers over the next few weeks.  I am the one constant in my kids' lives.  I'm ALWAYS here. (A curse as well as a blessing:)  My hubby will do a fabulous job I know, but it will still be hard on everyone.  So prayers all the way around, ok?  Thanks!

I have a lot on my plate at the moment.  Being on THREE design teams and trying to get my sister's wedding invitations done before I go has been a bit stressful.  I am so fortunate to work with amazing people who have given me permission to do what I can and not stress.  I hate not fulfilling commitments.  I had to make a difficult decision.  I have decided to step down as a Design Team member for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge.  This Sunday will be my last project with them.  I am so thankful to Priscilla for understanding and being so kind.  My card today is for her.

 I owe a lot to Priscilla.  She is the first person to ever take a chance on me as  a designer.  I have grown so much in my crafting skills in the last year and I attribute most of that to her challenge blog.  It is truly one of the greatest ones out there.  You never know from week to week what challenge she has thought up.  I have stepped outside of my comfort zone many times using her challenges.  Just knowing her has helped me grow as a person.  I think she is AMAZING!  When I'm having a bad day or week I think about her and her strength to push on and just get things done.  To look at the bright side.  If she can go through all the things that have come her way and still keep a positive attitude than how can I NOT do the same.  If you are reading my blog for the first time you can read about Priscilla HERE.  She is a wonderful, inspiring person.  How blessed I am to" know" her and even better, to be inspired by her.

I will have several posts over the next few days and then a few pre scheduled posts for Whimsy stamps while I am away.  I am actually contributing to one of the challenges on the NEW Whimsy Inspirations blog.  This is  a challenge that is dear to my heart.  Please stay tuned for that.

My card today uses the Mojo Monday Sketch 127 and I got my color inspirations from the Curtain Call Color Challenge.

I realized as I was putting this up that I forgot to add the Kraft card stock to the back of my image.  So let's just pretend that this is all adhered to a Kraft base, shall we?:D  I have to pretend quite a bit in my life.  I'd love to pretend that my sister's wedding invitations are done, but that's a reality that's SLAPPING me right in the face.  My supplies have STILL not arrived.  Wish me luck with that please!

Hope you have a great day!  We just got a blanket of beautiful WHITE snow.  It's so pretty out.






What's In It?
Stamps: Love's Flower, Because of You VERVE
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, antique linen TH, Spring Rain PTI, ballet blue
Paper: Cosmos Cricket's Material Girl and Girl Friday, Vanilla, watercolor, white dotted
Other: Labels Nestie, sponge, rhinestone brad, dimensionals, Enchanted Evening satin ribbon, Kaiser pearls, scalloped edge punch