For the Graduate....

Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by today. We are off on a road trip to Atlanta tomorrow. My cousin, Mikey, is graduating from Morehouse with a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics. Ok, WHO majors in Applied Physics?!? Are you kidding me? He obviously got his smarts from me..lol. I'm so proud of him..and he is a great kid to boot! So, I made these 3 cards for him.  The first one is the one from me. It's my favorite of the 3. I am not certain that it isn't too girly, but I like it and hope he will also.

I love that patterned paper...it seems more masculine even though it has the glitter on it. Guys like glitter, don't they? ;o) I also used the Mat Stack die and I really love it. I use it more than any other die, I do believe. This card was super simple to make and I got the idea from this card on Nichole's blog. Cute, no?

The second card I really love also. I made it for my mom to give to him...

I distressed the edges and thought I would try the ribbon detail that everyone is doing. I'm too much of a nerd to let the ribbon just do its own thing, so I made mine stay together with glue dots..lol. I just couldn't deal with the willy nilly look even though I LOVE it on other folks' cards. I also stamped and cut out a couple of the hats to put on the top part of the card. I should have made them both black, I think, but his school colors demanded the maroon. Speaking of Maroon..do you guys like Maroon 5? They're my favorites and they're going to be in concert across the US this summer..woohoo! Can't wait!

Ok, back to the blog...lol. This last card is the one that he'll get from Ava. I cased it from a card by Niki Estes. I can't link to it cause the papertrey gallery isn't completely online and I don't see it on her blog..hmm..Anyway, I had a TIME getting those numbers right! They were always spaced too far apart..ugh! Frustrating, but I finally got them close enough! ;o)

Well, that's it for today! I have been trying to post this for a half hour, but it stormed and the cable/internet/phone went out..yuck! I did get our midnight tickets for Eclipse on June 29th! Woohoo!! I totally cannot wait! Ok..later gators!




Stamps: For the Graduate and A Little Argyle (papertrey)
Ink: Basic Black, Bravo Burgundy (stampin up); Fresh Snow (papertrey)
Cardstock:Bravo Burgundy (stampin up) Stamper's Select white, True Black (papertrey); Patterned paper from DCWV
Extras: Black grosgrain (stampin up); Mat Stack die and button (papertrey); Gunmetal stickles, crystal effects

It's been a while...

Hasn't it? Wow, I haven't posted since Saturday. I lost my mojo somehow...couldn't get a thing created...until today. I made this for a friend who sent us a case of yummy Omaha steaks! Woohoo! You like? It's also for the Mojo Monday challenge! I love this weeks challenge and it was a real challenge to use ribbon in that area of the card so I used the papertrey rickrack die and put little cardstock ribbons there. I saw this video on Amy R's blog and just had to try it. It took a few tries, but I finally got close enough! Cool technique!

Oh!! I also got  anew camera for Mother's Day..can you tell the diff in this pic versus the others? Oh, I am so in love with my little camera. It's a Nikon Coolpix L22. Not a big professional looking one with all of the bells and whistles, but just right for me!

Ok, well I am off work tomorrow, so I'm sure i'll get some good stuff done. Have a great night!


Stamps: Gossipabella (stamping bella); Signature Greetings and Beautiful Blooms 2 (papertrey)
Cardstock: Stampers select white, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, Orange Zest (all papertrey)
Ink: Basic Black, Only Orange, Green Galore, Pink Passion (stampin up); Fresh Snow (papertrey)
Extras: Nestabilities, dimensionals

For Mum...

Hello good people of Earth! Well, it's been a beautiful day here in Nashville. Sun was out, nice breeze, and people are out and about...or were out and about. It's almost 9pm. I'm so late with this post, but it was just too nice a day to be in the craft room! Thank you for all of your well wishes! We are all recovering..schools start back on Monday and downtown has lights again! They're saying Opryland Hotel won't be open for 4-6 months, though..and that's heartbreaking. If you've never been there, you're missing out. It's such a grand hotel and, especially at Christmas, is just dazzling! I'm sure, though, it'll come back better than ever! :)

Anyway...do I spend too much time yapping before I show my card? I feel like I talk a lot..lol..sorry about that! On to the card...

I made this for my mum for Mother's Day! This isn't the first card I made. I made her card about 2 months ago, but last week she was over and looking through my cards and found it..ugh!! Ok, so I made this one tonight. It's completely different from the first card, but her favorite color is yellow, so she should like it. I got my Beautiful Blooms 2 in the mail this week and also the BB die#1 (just fyi - if you've been waiting on #'s 2 and 3- they are in stock! I ordered them this morning! Yeeee!!). I just love dies. They are the greatest thing in the stamping world in my opinion! There is only one piece of ink on this card. The flowers are completely dies that I used on...yeah, I know I know..say it with me..."PATTERNED PAPER". I've never met a patterned paper I didn't like. It's a sickness, people. I used the papertrey rickrack die to create the 'stems' and just tied a little ribbon and voila! I really wanted to put the sentiment at the bottom- that's why it is short like that- but I realized I am in desperate need of sentiments. Hopefully, there will be some cool ones in this month's release at papertrey! Woot! :0)

Ok, well that's it. I've got some things to do before I go to bed. That cake on the island is calling my name..and it's yelling louder than the pralines and cream ice cream from the freezer! lol

I hope all you mums out there have a wonderfully happy Mother's Day tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!!



Stamps: Beautiful Blooms 2 (papertrey); Well Scripted (stampin up)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Black, Sweet Pea dsp (stampin up)
Ink: Basic Black (stampin up)
Extras: Black grosgrain (stampin up); Rickrack die, Beautiful Blooms die #1 (papertrey)

Masculine Schmasculine...

Ok, so all week I've been seeing folks update their blogs with masculine cards. I needed one, so I thought i'd take a crack at it. I'm not a girly girl in real life. Well, ok...I'm kind of a prima donna, but not in a girly frilly kind of way.Ha ha! My cards are also pretty straightforward. Not a lot of frills and things. You'll never see lace or anything like that, so one would think that a masculine card would be easy for me. It is SO not. I just freeze and everything I pick up is too frilly! It's nuts. Anyway, this is a card I made for my cousin who is turning 24 next week. It's not the most masculine of cards, but I don't have any masculine sets really. I've been putting off getting Men of Life and/or Masculine Motifs (I guess it's time to get those!), so I had to go with Enjoy the Ride. I used the Tim Holtz distressing ink for the car to try and make it look old, but I think it just looks rusty! I also used some of that ink on the vanilla panel and Fresh Snow ink on the edges of the main card. It's a fun card, but again I used patterned paper as my crutch. That whole patterned part is one sheet of paper. I think this whole flood thing is still messing with my brain cause I'm not 100% into anything I'm doing right now. Ugh! Anyway, so here is the card.

I like the way it turned out, but it's time to focus on certain needs instead of just stuff I think is pretty. Needs like Sympathy, Get Well, Masculine, etc.  I bought For the Graduate for a family member who is graduating next week, so you'll see that card soon. Ok, well they're waiting for me on the lanai. Ok, we live in Tennessee so it's the patio. Lanai just sounded fancier.lol. Time to grab some fruit and cheese and chillax for a bit. Take care! And thanks for stopping in!


Stamps: Enjoy the Ride (papertrey)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla (stampin up); Patterned paper (DCWV)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distressing ink in Tea Dye; Chocolate Chip, Basic Brown (stampin up)
Extras: Button, twine (stampin up)

Getting back into the swing of things...and Mothers Day

Hey everyone! I've been missing a few days. Still trying to post comments on you guys' blogs, while really not having the desire or mojo to do anything of my own. As you know, we're in Nashville and we've had some devastating floods since Saturday.  When I posted on Saturday, I was telling you about the rain and all. Well, Nashville is now under a LOT of water. Downtown, the Titans stadium, the Schermerhorn symphony center, Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Old Opry, Opryland Hotel, countless strip malls and interstates..all flooded..some irreparably.

The worst part of it all, though, isn't the loss of iconic places like some of those..but of homes and schools. There are 25 schools in Nashville alone with water damage. There is a school about 10 minutes from me completely under water. Places you grew up living and going..all gone in a weekend. Nashville has never seen this much rain - ever. It's heartbreaking. It really is. You stop and wonder why not your house. Why was your house spared while friends and neighbors lost everything. It's been such an emotionally charged week here, but honestly we've seen the best in people. There's been no looting, no violence..none of that. Some of the best of America lives right here in Tennessee and I have never been prouder to call this place home. Nashville will get through this. We'll rebuild, but it'll be a while. Hardly anyone here has flood insurance because 1. we do not live in a flood plain and 2. you can't just buy it cause you want it (at least that's what we've all been told), so it will be hard to pick back up and move on..but it'll happen. Take a look at this video for more on the city: Nashville

For those of you that asked, we're fine. Our house has roof damage and some issues inside, but nothing like what others have experienced. There are still friends we have not heard from and people who are still stuck in their homes either downtown in condos or in the suburbs on cul-de-sacs. People have died, and people have lost everything. We were blessed for some reason not to have to deal with those things and for that I am extremely humbled. God is good all of the time even in the midst of storms.

Ok, so I knew that tonight I HAD to stamp. I have to get Mother's Day cards to my mother in law and step mom in the mail tomorrow if they are going to get there on time, so I had no choice. I got my new stamps from Practicing Creativity Designs in the mail yesterday thanks to Dana who totally MADE me buy this set with her fabulous card seen here: You're Dandy. I can already say that I love love love this set. It was so easy to use. This card practically made itself especially once I used the Mojo Monday sketch for this week. Fan-freakin-tastic, am I right? Love these sketch challenges. They totally open my brain to new possibilities. You guys should try them if you haven't already.

Ok, so without further ado..here is the card with You're Dandy and the Mojo Monday sketch:

I just love these colors. Everything just worked so well together on this card and I love when that happens. Too often, I am sitting in the craft room looking at a bunch of supplies with absolutely NO ideas coming into my brain,but this was easy peasy lemon squeezy! I made this for my mother in law...I think..it may end up going to my step mom. lol..I haven't decided yet!

The second card is really a cheat card. The only stamping on the card is the "Wonderful Mother" sentiment. The rest is ALL paper. It's a paper pack I picked up at Joann this past weekend by DCWV. I love patterned paper..just love it!

Here is that card:

It has sort of a foil effect on some of the paper that looks embossed. I just thought that was really all I needed on the card. I stamped the sentiment on and it as all good for me. :o) Oh, but I did use a little of the Tim Holtz distressing ink on the edges. It was my first time using it, so i'll have to practice..lol

Ok, well I hate to cut this short (as if..considering this has been an extra long post), but I must get to bed! Thanks for stopping by...

Stamps: You're Dandy (Practicing Creativity Designs); Well Scripted (stampin up)
Cardtsock: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Black,Chocolate Chip (stampin up); All patterned paper by DCWV
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Black (stampin up); Tim Holtz distressing ink in Tea Dye
Extras: Stickles

This is what we're dealing with...

Hey everyone. No posts today. This is what were dealing with here in Nashville. Pray for us all! :0(

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/category.asp?C=125220&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4750151&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Congrats!

Well, Happy Saturday to you guys! I'm not sure about where y'all are, but it is crazy raining here in TN. Tornado warnings, floods, all kinds of nonsense. I am a TRUE rain lover, so this is my kinda of day...but even I have my limits. When it interferes with my shopping..well, let's just say that right now me and rain aren't on the best of terms! I had big plans today to get to Hobby Lobby and Joann to buy a whole list of things the folks over in the papertrey forums told me I needed and I only got as far as Joann. Our Joann's stinks. They had nothing on my list with the exception of the Tim Holtz Distressing inks and a dauber. I did buy 3 packs of patterned paper and I love love love patterned paper. They didn't have October Afternoon or Cosmo Cricket, but I bought some of the DCWV that was 40% off.  Actually, I'm not sure if I have ever seen those 2 brands of paper in any of the stores I frequent so maybe they're only sold online..anyone know?

Ok, so on to today's card:

It started out as a congrats card for my co - worker, Michelle, who was promoted last week. She works very hard and really deserves it, so I'm going to be sending this down to Texas for her this week. I'm also using it as my entry for the newest Taylored Expressions challenge. She has such cute and functional sketches. I love a great sketch, but when I can see myself using it over and over, it is even better! Hers always seem to be ones that I can always go to and change up depending on what I need.

Well, I just heard on the TV (lol..I said 'the' TV..kinda like when old people say 'the' iTunes or 'the' Walmart..ha ha) that a county right next to ours got 10 inches of rain - WOW!! That's crazy. Ok, well..I'm off to spend some time watching Robert Mitchum movies with the hubs assuming the weather folks stop breaking in with more bad news. :0( Have a great - and dry - day everyone and thanks again for stopping by!



Stamps: Execubella (stamping bella)
Cardstock: Pale Plum, White, Perfect Plum, Rockabilly dsp, Sweet Pea dsp (stampin up)
Inks: Basic Black, Old Olive, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Summer Sun (stampin up)
Extras: Rickrack die (papertrey); Ranger Stickles; white buttons (stampin up)