Monday Montage #115

Another weekend come and gone ... another week and another Monday Montage blog hop!! Snow, rain, sunshine, heat ... I have NO idea what season we are having, but the days seem to be flying by more quickly (even though we have more daylight!)!! Let's get started ...

I got the most A-MAZ-ING dress recently. I wore it to church over the weekend ... and I got a lot of compliments on it AND I felt comfy and great in it!!! Why am I telling you this??? Because my card today was inspired by my lovely and happy lemon-y dress. It has blue-toned leaves with happy yellow lemons all over it (not to mention that it has POCKETS which makes it more magical than you can imagine!)! What do you think??

Stamps: Lemon Zest
Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight
Ink:  Pacific Point, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Best Badge Punch, Lemon Builder Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim

Finished my marathon last weekend. I felt pretty good when I was done (mostly I'm just proud of myself for making the attempt and finishing!) Training has taught me a lot about myself ... and it's so fun to have a team of people to train with ... they are super motivating for SURE!! I did a 9-mile recovery run on Saturday. I would have been just as happy with 6 miles!! At least it gets me up and going!

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... you will be inspired!

Control Freaks "Splash of Color"

April showers bring ... a splash of color!!! Actually, there have been SO many lovely colors out my front door the past few weeks (on days when it's not snowing, that is!)!! The Control Freaks are celebrating the season by sharing their own "Splash of Color". If you've been hopping around, you just came from the beautiful colored creations of Kelly Acheson. BEAUTIFUL!!

I do believe it is quite difficult to make a bad card with the "Eastern Beauty/Eastern Medallions" coordinating stamps and dies. I honestly can't believe I haven't used it WAY more than I have ... it is chock FULL of beautiful images. Lately I've been really drawn to purples and blues for some reason. Good thing Rich Razzleberry and Bermuda Bay are sticking around for another year!!

Stamps: Beautiful Eastern Beauty, Timeless Textures
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Classic Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Rich Razzleberry Velvet Ribbon, Share What You Love Artisan Pearls

This little card is one I made while me and some of my Stampin' Up friends were visiting/eating/stamping at the home of my BFF, Jeanna Bohanon. She just brought up a bunch of supplies and gave us to the challenge to create something with what she had supplied. It was so much fun!!

Stamps: Banners for You
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Peekaboo Peach, Flirty Flamingo
Ink: Peekaboo Peach, Flirty Flamingo
Accessories: Bunch of Banners Framelits, Butterflies Thinlits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Basic Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Faceted Gems, Basic Black Ribbon



This Saturday I will be running in a race for which I have been training all season ... the Salt Lake City Marathon!! Yes ... I AM crazy!! However, I run with a team of amazing people who raise funds to benefit the Huntsman Cancer Institute and cancer research. It makes me so happy to be a part of this team!!

Next up??? The clever and creative Cindy Elam! I can't wait to see what she made myself!!

Autism Matters!

So many times it's just easy for me to put a card on my blog here just for the sake of putting something up. But every once in a while I find something that strikes so near and dear to my heart that it makes me reevaluate why I do what I love and share what I do. This week, the members of the Autism Matters Blog Hop have reminded how much joy comes from "giving unto others". We ALL know someone who has been affected by autism... through family, through friends ... it's definitely out there.

In trying to keep with the color scheme associated with autism, I made this little happy card. Aren't the banners soon fun??? I'm actually kinda partial to the birdie and the little hearts ... super cute!!

Stamps: Pick a Pennant (Sneak Peek from the NEW catalog coming in June!)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Real Red
Ink:  Real Red, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: 1/2" Circle Punch

Interesting fact ... Scientists are unclear as to why about 20% to 30% of autistic children develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood. Knowledge is power!! The more we research and learn about autism, the more we can do to work toward better treatments!

This is where YOU come in!!! By clicking on the "donate" graphic here, you can change lives ... every single dollar counts. Even if everyone who reads this donates $1 - $5 ... think of the change we could initiate!!! AWESOME!!!





Next up??? Kelly Acheson!!! Not only is she an incredible paper crafter, she has a HUGE heart ... and she is the one who organized this blog hop!!! You GO, Kelly!!

Monday Montage #114

Here we are again!! It's Monday Montage time!! I have spent the better part of the last two weekends driving in the car ... last weekend going to/from Las Vegas for Stampin' Up's OnStage Event ... and from Friday to Sunday this past weekend driving to Phoenix and back (we were making a furniture delivery for our business). I will be glad to be home for a little while!!

Waterfront ... this stamp set is DA BOMB!!! It is SOOO good!! And I know I have mentioned before that I struggle with "dude" cards. This set is PERFECTA for them!!!

Stamps: Waterfront
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Tranquil Tide, Whole Lot of Lovely DSP
Ink:  Soft Wuede, Old Olive, Wild Wasabi, Tranquil Tide, Soft Sky
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Square Framelits Dies, SeasideTextured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen Thread

I need a week off ... or maybe two!!! I'd LOVE to be sitting under an umbrella with a good book and a frosty cold fruity drink, wouldn't you??? Maybe one day I'll get there!

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... you will be inspired!

Fab Friday #135

I feel creatively reinvigorated!!! I spent last weekend with a bunch of my Stampin' Up friends in Las Vegas at OnStage!!! Oh My GOOOOSH!!! I got a sneak peek into the new catalog that will be coming out in June ... and I'm going to go BANKRUPT!!! I brought a few goodies home and was able to incorporate at least ONE new stamp into this week's Fab Friday Challenge!

I feel like I have been in a rut for ... um ... FOREVER!!! I haven't really liked much of ANYthing I have created in quite a while. But this card makes me SOOOO happy!!! I like the colors, I like the layout, AND I LOVE citrus! So there you go!

Stamps: Lemon Zest, Detailed with Love
Paper: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Bubbles & Fizz DSP
Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Lemon Building Punch, Petal Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Basic Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen Thread

Nice sketch!! I will definitely use this again!








Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

I will be on the road again this weekend ... with my hubby!!! We are headed down to Phoenix to make a furniture delivery for a client. Good thing I have an awesome son who is willing to come and stay at our house to keep an eye on things AND take care of our doggie!

Monday Montage #113

How can it possibly be Monday again ALREADY??? I could really get into having a 5-day weekend and 2-day work week, couldn't you??? It seems I always need a weekend to get over my weekend! So happy to be hopping around with the Monday Montage Team, though. Hopping??? Hahahaha! We just had Easter, so this made me giggle!

I literally have HUNDREDS of stamp sets ... and embossing folders ... and dies ... and punches ... and LOADS of ribbon and embellishments at my disposal. Lucky me!!! So why is it that sometimes I feel like I have NOTHING to create with??? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I placed an order with Stampin' Up on Friday ... and I can't WAIT to get my "new" goodies!! (This card was inspired by one made by fellow-Monday-Montager Amy O'Neill. I had the foreground figured out, but I used her ribbon treatment and leaf accents. Thanks, Amy!

Stamps: Colorful Seasons
Paper: Whisper White, Powder Pink, Pear Pizzazz
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delights, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Square Framelits Dies, May Flowers Framelits Dies, Burlap Ribbon, Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

I was so blessed to have all of my kids over for Easter Sunday. How lucky am I that they all live within a reasonable distance (like, no more than an hour!)! We laughed, we ate, we decorated eggs ... we ate some more! Pretty good weekend if you ask me!

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... soooooo good!!