Beep Beep and Hello Middle School!

Hello everyone! Here is a card I made for a friend of Ava's. She's got a birthday tomorrow and I made the card to match the gift bag I found. It also uses the sketch from Taylored Expressions this week.

Today was also 5th grade appreciation day at school. Tomorrow is the last day of school and my little pumpkin will be going to middle school. She's actually already been to middle school because before we move back to my hometown last year, 5th grade WAS middle school. When we moved back home and she realized she'd have to go BACK to middle school...well, it wasn't pretty..lol!

Anyway, here are a couple of pics from today. I thought all of the little girlies looked so cute in their *Sunday best*. :o)

Have a great evening!


Stamps: Enjoy the Ride (papertrey)
Cardstock: Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf, White (papertrey); Patterned paper (stampin up)
Ink: Pink Passion, Green Galore, black (stampin up)
Extras: Buttons (papertrey); Stickles

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge

Well, happy Tuesday to you and welcome to this month's Blog Hop! I was so excited when I saw that Felt was the challenge item. I had no felt, so I had to quickly order some and as soon as I did, I knew what I wanted to do with it:

 I love the way the felt looks AND feels on this card.  I stamped the flowers onto a piece of the felt and cut them out. The flowers just look so dreamy and they were easy to cut out because the papertrey felt is 100% wool! No stragglies! lol. I then stamped the Lily of the Valley directly onto the Barely banana because I wanted it to have a background color. I knew that I had seen folks color the background in with Copics and the airbrush thingy, but I don't have the right coor Copics or the airbrush thingy, so this was the next best thing for me. :) After I stamped the flower onto the BB cardstock, I simply used my scortape to adhere the felt flowers over the stamped ones. Voila! I also love the way the Dotti Biscotti paper looks as a background..love love love it. I'm wondering what else I can do with the felt, so I'll be hopping around to other blogs looking for great ideas! Happy Hopping and thanks for stopping by!



Stamps: Lily of the Valley and Signature Greetings  (papertrey)
Cardstock: Kraft, White, and Dotti Biscotti (papertrey); Barely Banana (stampin up)
Inks: Basic Black, Old Olive (stampin up)
Extras: Old Olive grosgrain (stampin up); Vintage Cream Felt (papertrey)

Mistakes were made, others will be blamed...

I read a book with that title  couple of years ago that was really good. It reminds me of this card because I am going to blame other external forces for the way this card came out..lol. This was my first time using the Memento Cantaloupe. I've seen others use it and it looks awesome, but I think I was a little heavy handed with it. My panel Bella looks more like a Pigpenabella...lol. Dirty psychic girl..ha ha! I also messed up the little fillable frames 4 panel at the bottom, but it's not too bad. The major faux pas was that my marker went rolling across the table and right onto the card AFTER it was made. Obviously, I was not using a Copic. Ugh! I had to do something so that's why there is a row of buttons...just out of nowhere. Then I realized that I left my camera on all night, and have no more batteries that size so I had to take the picture with my iPhone so it's blurry...UGH!!! Some days just aren't my day! I like it well enough, though.

I made this with the Mojo Monday sketch in mind. I really enjoy the sketches they have because every week they really do challenge me to think out of my norm. Have a great night!

Stamps: Predictabella (stamping bella); Fillable Frames 4 die (papertrey)
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Tempting Turquoise (stampin up); New Leaf, White (papertrey); patterned paper (dcwv)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, Memento Canteloupe; Tempting Turquoise, Creamy caramel, Close to Cocoa, Green Galore (stampin up)
Extras: Stickles; Grosgrain (stampin up)Buttons (papertrey)

More grads...

Happy Saturday to you guys! I have been struggling this week and then yesterday at work got a horrible migraine! I hate them, but they're made worse by the fact that the meds I take for them make me seriously groggy. Ugh..I just *came out* of my fog about an hour ago from taking the meds yesterday around 5. Yuck...I'm still not well, but these cards had to be made today. They're for a couple of kids at church that are graduating. People always say this, but it feels like they were JUST babies! Wow...where DOES the time go?

Ok, well I'm going to lie back down, but here are the cards. This was my first time using the little Xyron machine (on the black glittery grad cap)I bought at Walmart a few weeks ago. It's simple enough and i'll be using it more. I also love how the scor-tape covered in glitter looks around the edges of the pink card. I got that idea from this card by Nichole Heady. I love love love it. Alright, hope to talk to you guys tomorrow. Have a great night....

Stamps: For the Graduate (papertrey)
Ink: Basic Black (stampin up)
Cardstock: Going Grey, black, and patterned paper (stampin up); Hibiscus Burst and White (papertrey)
Extras: Xyron machine;Mat Stack 1 die (papertrey); Dazzling Diamonds (stampin up); Black grosgrain (stampin up)

Tuesday

Did you guys watch Lawrence Welk as a kid or was it just me? I used to love that show! Bubbles and music and pretty dresses...not sure what that has to do with this card or anything else. The thought just popped in my head. LOL. I have been having the craziest week. Just one thing after another and I've been feeling *off*. I can't really put my finger on what's wrong, but something isn't right in my Universe and it's just bringing me down. That's pretty much why the title of this post is Tuesday. I have to keep telling myself that it is a DIFFERENT day from yesterday that was also yucky..lol. Can y'all keep up with my brain?..cause I can't! Yeesh!

So, anyway I made it for my aunt who's having a birthday next week (or, um...is it the week after?), but the card totally got away from me. I had a clean design and it just kept going and I kept adding until...well, this is the result:

I do like it, but it's not exactly how I wanted it. It's kinda like most things in life, though, right? Not exactly how you want it, but exactly as it should be! :o)

That's it for me... oh, and thanks for the sweet comments you guys leave me. It makes me totally love to create new things for y'all to see. Have a great night...or day..lol


Stamps: Signature Greetings (papertrey)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White(papertrey); Raspberry Tart dsp (stampin up)
Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Rose Red (stampin up)
Extras: Rose Red grosgrain (stampin up); Button (papertrey)

Monday

Well, hello everyone! Can I just say that even though I love my job today was absolutely nuts! I was tired from Atlanta and so all day I was just off.  I'm so glad it's over. I need to just get in the bed now and relax cause if I have to make one more decision, my head may explode. My Boss just kept making fun of me..lol..but I guess he felt sorry for me cause he took me to Puffy Muffin for cookies! Yum! They have the best, freshest cookies. I had whole English Toffee and Butter Pecan cookies and then we split a Snickerdoodle and an Oatmeal Raisin. He had a whole Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut and Chocolate Chunk.  Yes, I know...we're not right. Those cookies are SO not on my diet. :o( I'm going back to PM another day this week with my friend, Mayra, for some yummy potato soup! I can NOT wait...if you're ever in Nashville (well Brentwood which is just a few miles south of Nashville on 65), you MUST stop and eat.

I made this card for my husband. I think I may give it to him on Father's Day, but maybe tomorrow..lol..I want him to have it soon! :o) I used the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday challenge. This sketch was hard for me for some reason..and the card isn't EXACTLY how I wanted it to be, but I like it well enough. This was also my first time inking up my Chair-rished set. As much as I love it, I just can't seem to use it in a way that really makes me happy. Do you guys have those kinds of sets? You love them, but whenever YOU try to use them it's just a disaster. I hate that! I'm going to try and use it more and maybe get more comfortable with it.

Ok, well that's enough for tonight. I think tomorrow I may do Kristina Werner's color challenge! Have a great night...

Stamps: Chair- rished (papertrey)
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Grey (stampin up); Fresh Snow (papertrey)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select (papertrey); Barely Banana; Going Grey (stampin up); patterned paper by DCWV
Extras: Button (papertrey); Twine (stampin up)

Rolling by...

Happy Saturday everyone! As you're reading this I am either on my way TO or already IN Atlanta. It's supposed to rain the entire weekend, but hopefully we'll get to get out and do some things. I like to shop there because they tend to have stores that we don't have in Nashville. Of course, if my plan worked and I spent a TON last night at the Papertrey release then I may not have any shopping money..haha!

So, here is a card I made using my Rollabella from stamping bella. She's so adorable! I paper pieced her top and colored her *acid washed* jeans in with Copics. I love the look they give when you use the colorless marker..so cool! I made this for this weeks Taylored Expressions Sketch. I used the Papertrey dies for the flowers at the bottom of the page (from Beautiful Blooms 2) and stickles for the little *dots* inside the flowers.  I really like these colors together. The color scheme is based on the Stampin Up Designer Series Paper "Thoroughly Modern".

Well, I hope you guys all have a wonderful Saturday! I really appreciate the fact that you guys stop by my blog and leave me love...makes me happy!


Stamps: Rollabella (stamping bella); Chair-rished sentiment (papertrey)
Ink: Rose Red; Tempting Turquoise, Creamy caramel, Close to Cocoa (stampin up); Copics (papertrey)
Cardstock:Rose Red; Tempting Turquoise; Chocolate Chip and Thoroughly Modern dsp (Stampin Up); Stamper's Select White (papertrey)
Extras: Rickrack die, Nestabilities, and Beautiful Blooms 2 die(papertrey); Stickles

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(

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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)