My Dad, My Hero ...

It has been two years ago today. It's difficult to believe that the time has gone so quickly. And the second anniversary of my dad's passing just so happens to fall on Memorial Day. Quite fitting ...

I have to also say a heartfelt thank you to so many of you who have sent me support and well wishes since his passing. You have no idea how much they have meant to me and how much your comments have given me encouragement and strength. You are all the BEST!!

I am fortunate that I only live a couple of minutes below the cemetery. It gives me the opportunity to visit Dad more often than just on Memorial Day.

I am also very grateful for all the men and women who have given so much of themselves to defend our freedoms. And to the families who support them. Today is YOUR day!!

Stamps: Tiny Tags
Paper: Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Night of Navy, Real Red
Accessories: Cricut Stand and Salute, Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder, Rhinestone Embellishment, Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon, Star Eyelet/Brad, Linen Thread

Row, Row, Row Your Boat ...

It seems that everything crafty comes in waves (bwahahaha!! Waves??? I am sooo punny!!) I have had many a discussion within fellow crafty people over the years and we have often wondered where the big Secret Meeting is?? You know, the one where all the different crafting companies and head wizards get together and decide what colors/trends are gonna be popular NEXT??? It is sooo weird how they all seem to come out with stuff simultaneously ... and it's all the same stuff!!! (Like, remember a couple of years ago when Sock Monkey made a go at it?) (Okay ... so this is NOT a Sock Monkey, but he IS cute!!)

Anywho ... it seems one of the big trends lately is nautical. Which is okie dokie with me, since I am LOVIN' it!! I was inspired to make this card by one of my fellow Dirty Dozen friends (and brilliant stampers, by the way), Bridget Finlay. And I WOULD post a link to her creation, but many of you won't be able to see it ... unless, of course, you are a Fan Club member over on SCS because it was in her Dirty Dozen gallery last month. TOTALLY loved it!! I ended buying this wave die from My Favorite Things because of it, actually. Suffice it to say, her card was BRILLIANT!!! (Okay, okay ... I'm posting a link here ... but if you can't see it and really NEED to, then you'll hafta get a Fan Club membership over on SCS ... which is a GOOD thing!!)

Bridget's Favorite

This was also created for one of the VSN challenges last weekend on SCS. The challenge was to use a boat image of some sort. Which totally made me happy since I got to use that wave die!!

Soooo stoked for the long weekend ... it's Memorial Day here in the US of A ... time for us to reflect and be grateful for all of those who have served our country ... sooo grateful for them!!! I am gonna go take some flowers to my Dad's grave this weekend - he was a former Marine. Hats off to ya, Dad!!

Now ... I just need to go find something GOOD to barbeque!!

Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Create a Cupcake
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Patterned DSP, Sweet Slumber DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Circle Scissor, 1" Circle Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Baja Breeze Button, Word Window Punch, Wave Die (MFT), Pop-Up Glue Dots

Criss-Cross Revisited

I have always loved criss-cross cards. One of the challenges during VSN this past weekend was to make one. After looking at a few of them I realized it had never even OCCURRED to me to make a vertical one. I have always made them horizontally ... wow!! How fun is this???

I have recently pulled out some of my Papertrey stamps, too. I have a whole BOX full of 'em ... which has been gathering dust as of late. I really like this Honeybees set ...

It is supposed to be sunny with a high of 72 degrees today ... YAY!!! It has been rainingrainingraining for what seems like ETERNITY!!! Sooooo glad that sun is paying us a visit!

Stamps: Honeybees (Papertrey)
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Basic Black
Accessories: Large and Small Oval Punches, Assorted SU Brads (retired), Pink Gingham Ribbon, Pop-Up Glue Dots

For My Darling Daughter ...

It is amazingly difficult for me to believe that my baby ... my youngest ... my only girl ... is turning 17 today!! Where on EARTH did all those years go??? I am happy to watch her grow up and am excited for the adventures awaiting her in the years ahead. On the other hand, I am sad that my little baby ... my snuggler ... my climber ... my explorer ... is not so much a baby any more!!

I made this card for her birthday. I was inspired to make it as part of VSN over on SCS this past weekend. Didn't get to play NEARLY as much this time as I did last time ... but the color combo laid out in this challenge was just too-too tempting. Just had to take a stab at it!!

So .... happy birthday, my dear-darling daughter. Looking forward to many adventures ahead with you ... love you much!!

Stamps: Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Cool Caribbean, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Sweet Slumber DSP
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: 1/2" Circle Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Whisper White Satin/Organza Ribbon, Dimensionals

Let's Freak It For the Boys!!!

Isn't Jan AMAZING (as always!)?? If you have been following our Blog Tour, you should have just come from the fabulous creations of JanTink. I am in LOVE with the cute little Pick Tin ...

You KNOW how I struggle with "dude" cards ... you've heard me mention it here LOTS lately. So I really WAS glad that our theme this month was Father's Day/masculine cards. It's always good for us to stretch ourselves, right??? And this one really IS a stretch ... since I don't play golf, and my father-in-law doesn't play golf ... however, my dad WAS an avid golfer, so I did this one as an ode to him. I'm sure he woulda LOVED it!!

Which brings me to these golf balls (a perfect match for the previous card, eh?) ... because of the lack of golfers in the fam, I had to go to my BFF Becky. Her husband is a golfing MANIAC!! I called her and said, "You wouldn't happen to have a box of golf balls anywhere, would ya?" Her answer? "Yep! Come on over!" Whew!!! Once I got going on this I knew I was gonna HAVE to have some golf tees ... so, instead of bugging Becky again, I just ran to the local "Golfs 'R Us" store (JK!!) and got me some tees. Actually, we have a pretty good store close by where you can find just about anything, so I was saved ...

Stamps: On the Green, All Holidays
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Real Red, Whisper White, Patterns DSP
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Linen Thread, 3/4" x 15/16" Oval Punch, Photo Corners Punch, Paper Piercing Tool/Mat, Bitty Buttons, Bitty Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Dimensionals

This final card is also perfect for a sports fanatic. I musta really had my dad on my mind while I was creating, 'cause he was ALSO an avid football/basketball fan. So, here's to you, Dad ... love you ... miss you!!! Play a round with all my uncles (Dave, Dick, Dan, Dale and Huck) ... you guys would surely make a golfing "Dream Team" ... and in Heaven the fareways are endlessly green and there are NO sandtraps!!!

Stamps: Slam Dunk, Touch Down, All Holidays
Paper: Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder, Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Go check out Lisa Martz's creations ... they're to TIE for!!! (Bwahahaha!!!)

Love Me Some Gingham ...

I have recently allowed myself to go back through some of my retired stuff and use it (you've heard me talk about this on here before). Like, just because it is RETIRED it is no longer USABLE? It doesn't exist? Really??? What universe are we living in, anyway! Sheesh!!! I have two HUGE Rubbermaid-type containers FULL of luscious old cardstock (and I KNOW it is ALL lucscious, 'cause I have impeccable taste!).

Soooo ... I have recently re-discovered SU's Sweet Slumber DSP. I am SOOOOO in love with the gingham-patterned stuff!! L-O-V-E it!!! That, coupled with the new Fabulous Florets stamp set (which I also love!) and the retired but oh-so-wonderful Well Scripted stamp set (how the heck that thing didn't make it into the big catty is anyone's guess!) makes this card a mishmash of old and new ... I got some REALLY old, some not-quite-as-old and some really new stuff going on with this-here card ... and it makes me happy anyway you slice it. (This was also for CC323 on SCS - Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose and Very Vanilla.)

Now, if I could just scare the snow away again (yes, it DID snow just a little bit up the street from my house today... didn't stick long, but it is freakin' the MIDDLE of MAY for crying out loud!!)!!

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Well Scripted
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Sweet Slumber DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon, Pearl Stickers, Pop-Up Glue Dots

Blue Satin Shoes!!!

Can you say AWESOME??? I amaze myself once in a while ... I got me this new polka-dot dress for Mother's Day. Brought it home and decided I needed some shoes to go with it. Since I was a little out of funds (due to the dress ... and a couple of others I bought!), I was trying to come up with something to wear with it ... (and this picture looks SOOO posed ... 'cause it WAS!)

Then I got to thinking .... "I wonder if airbrushing with a Copic marker would work on satin shoes?" You see, I had these white satin shoes sitting in the closet .... waaaaayyyyyy in the back .... in a box. They've been sitting there for 14 stinkin' years since I wore them at my brother's wedding.

Sooo.... I went and bought the closest-color Copic marker I could find. Then, I FB'd (that's "Facebooked" for you non-conformists) my good friend, Marianne Walker. She is the Copic QUEEN!! She literally is. She works for Copic. She is the one who TRAINED me with my Copics. I asked her if she thought it would work. Her answer was a resounding "YES!!" So, I just jumped in with airbrush in hand ...

Here is how they looked halfway done. I was getting pretty giddy at about this point. SOOOOO happy when things turn out even BETTER than you thought they would!!




Aren't these FABULOUS?? I had sooo many compliments on them when I wore this combo to church last Sunday!! I was soooo happy!!

After all, what girl DOESN'T love her a new pair of shoes??? Especially when they only cost about $4 (the cost of the marker ... on SALE with a COUPON, no less!!)!! Color me HAPPY!!

Another "Bird Day" Card

I bought the "Tickled Pink" stamp set about 100 years ago ... do any of you remember it? It is a realllllyyy old SU one with pink flamingos ... I have always LOVED that set!! And I have made really good use of this "Happy Bird Day" sentiment over the years, as I have had MANY different stamp sets with birds in 'em ...

Anywho ... I was looking through some stuff on my Cricut "Life's a Beach" cartridge the other day and kept coming back to this stinkin' ca-YOOT pelican. He just makes me happy. So, with no particular idea in mind, I decided to cut him out and make a card with him. Easy enough ...

I can hear a bird singing out my window this morning. This despite the fact that it has been raining here for DAYS (since last weekend), and promises to rain more today. Sigh ... at least it's not SNOWING!!

Hugs to all!!

Stamps: Tickled Pink
Paper: Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive
Accessories: Cricut Life's a Beach Cartridge, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Spellbinders Long Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities, Linen Thread, Brown Gingham Ribbon, Cuttlebug Bird Call Embossing Folder

A Little Surprise ...

This week Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition is full of surprises and I am SOOOO excited to announce that I'm Surprise #1. I am the SURPRISE GUEST DESIGNER for Week 1. If you are a subscriber to Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition, I will be sharing a MUI-FAB 3D project uisng one of the sets for the week (But the sets that will be featured are a surprise too!)

AND the only way to see my MUI-FAB 3D project is to be a subscriber to Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition (If ya sign up now you can save $5 off the subscription price. The early bird special of $24.95 ends Saturday, May 14th at 11:55 pm. Don't miss it!)

Stamps: The Open Sea, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Nautical Expedition DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Small Oval Punch, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Linen Thread, Antique Brads, Pop-Up Glue Dots

Cherish Your Mother's Today ...

I am sooo blessed to have my mother in my life ... so many of my friends have already lost their mothers. I can't imagine a world without her in it ... or my mother in law, for that matter. She is so NOT the "wicked mother in law" ... kind, sweet and loving in every way. Both women are such beautiful examples of everything right in the world. I couldn't feel more lucky.

I made my moms these cards for Mother's Day. After having completed one, I realized I needed to run to the local scrapbook store to acquire another pearly-blingy sticker thing. Arrived there only to discover that they had used every single stinkin' one like the one I wanted for some kits for a class they were doing. What the heck???? Why didn't they SAVE me one???

Soooo....I had to readapt the design a little to work with the second pearly-blingy sticker thing I bought (and I can't for the life of me remember who made this second one ... I threw the packaging away and have already emptied the little garbage can in my craft room ... not gonna go dig through the big trash can outside, either!)!

I am also soooo grateful to be a mom myself ... my kids are the biggest challenge, yet the biggest blessings I could ever imagine. Motherhood has been the greatest thing I have ever attempted to do ... love you, Devan, Garrett and Amelia!!

And if you missed it, here a link to a tutorial I did on how to make those big paper roses:

Paper Punched Flowers Tutorial

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Paisley Prints DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: 1" Square Punch, Large Oval Punch, Elegant Lines, Elegant Bouquet and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folders, Fancy Flower Punch, Rolled Roses Die by My Favorite Things, Zva Creative Pearly-Blingy Sticker Thing (and a second one by unknown company), Cherry Gingham Ribbon, Double Loop Border/Corner Punches by Martha Stewart

Happy National Scrapbooking Day 2011!

Seems like the year has gone by soooo quickly!! And it's National Scrapbooking Day again ALREADY!!! You know what that means, right??? SHOPPING!!! SALES!!! WAHOO!!! (Like we all really NEEDED a reason to justify a trip to our favorite scrapbook store OR to do some online shopping, right???)

These are a couple of layouts I did of our trip to Disneyland last fall ... looking at 'em makes me feel like it's already long overdue to head back ... TOTALLY love it there!! (We are already planning to go back in October ... which seems oh-so-far away! The only reason I am NOT ready to go is that if it's October it means it is COLD - at least here in Utah - and I'm not ready to head back into winter since we have been trying SOOO hard here to head OUT of winter!!)

We all had such a great time ... and I took a LOT of goofy hat pictures. There are always sooo many fun hats to try on at Disneyland ... we even came home with some!!

Have a great day ... tune in tomorrow for some Mother's Day creations ...

Supplies: My Digital Studio

Dump Truck for James!

Sometimes I really {{heart}} my Cricut!! (Okay, well ... I love it all the time I use it, but that's beside the point!). I was able to create this hexagonally-shaped card by welding a couple of hexagons together ... how ca-YOOT is THAT??? And what's NOT to love about this little dump truck?? I swear, just lookin' at it makes me happy!

This is for my cousin's little guy, James. James is turning 3 this week ... oh, how I miss my kids being little like that! I swear, I barely blinked and they are all too big! Sigh ... I guess that's just how it goes. Too bad I can't have a "do-over" ...

Spring has finally decided to show up here ... I'm soooo glad!! We had more snow again last Saturday (seriously!), so I'm hoping we've seen the last of it. Supposed to get up in the low 70's today ... here's hopin'!!

Stamps: Family Phrases
Paper: Basic Black, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Cricut Stretch Your Imagination and B is for Boy Cartridges, Cuttlebug Tartan Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Word Window Punch, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button Brads, Brown Gingham Ribbon, Pop-Up Glue Dots

SportsMania

I think I mentioned a few months back that one of my New Year's Resolutions was to make birthday and anniversary cards for everyone in my family (at least all of those on the Weixler side). That equates to about 100 cards this year ... which is fine, actually, because I know I make more than that each year, so all is well, right?

The one thing that has been a challenge is that I have come to realize that there are a LOT of males in our family. And I have also realized that I am pretty much a "female" card maker. Which I guess is also fine ... but I have found that, by May 1, my ideas for guy cards have been stretched to their limit!! Man, oh man, I'm gonna have to start cruising some galleries and looking for ideas! All in all, this is gonna be GOOD for me, right??? Gonna make me a better stamper/paper crafter, right??? Here's hopin', anyway!

This card was for my cousin's 13th birthday - Happy Birthday, Andrew!! I pretty much liked it well enough that I made a second one almost exactly like it (changed up the embossing) to give to my nephew, Nate. He is 31 years old already!! Sheesh!! I have NO idea where the time has gone!! I could really tell some embarrassing story here about when he was little, but then he'd probably never speak to me again and that would be bad!! Suffice it to say that I have known him most of his life and have loved watching him grow up!! He sure keeps life fun when we get all the cousins and aunts and uncles together!! Hugs to both of you guys!!

Stamps: Slam Dunk, Touchdown, Perfect Punches
Paper: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Basic Black
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Nellie Snellen Diamond Dies, Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Linen Thread, Pop-Up Glue Dots