Monday Montage #188

Well, I am feeling VERY productive and VERY good about myself from this past weekend! I got to meet my son's girlfriend's mother and grandmother, we ate and played some really fun games, I helped my mama out, went on a 4-mile walk (a little sore, but at least I was able to go!), and cleaned and reorganized the cabinets in my bathroom (isn't it funny the things that bring you joy when you are over a "certain" age??)!! AND I made a card!! And it only took me about 15 minutes because several of the components were sitting on my craft table leftover from recent projects. I call this weekend a WIN!! I'll take that!!

I colored the pansies a couple of weeks ago when I borrowed the Pansy Patch Stamp Set that I borrowed from my friends  I used the oval cut from Soft Sea Foam using the 

Stitched Shapes Dies from a card I made a couple of days ago.  The Basic Border Dies accent was leftover from yet ANOTHER card! I love it when leftovers work together!

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Stamps: Pansy Patch, Sweet Strawberry (sentiment)

Paper: Balmy Blue, Whisper White, Soft Sea Foam, Forever Fern Greenery DSP

Ink: Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, So Saffron, Mango Melody, Real Red, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen

Accessories: Pansy Dies, Basic Borders Dies, Scalloped Contours Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Pastel Pearls, Linen Thread, Shimmery Crystal Effects, Stitched Shapes Dies, Lovely Labels Punch, Old Olive/Pretty Peacock 3/8" Reversible Ribbon, Flowers for Every Season Gems, Old World Paper Embossing Folder

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
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog 
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

Still waiting for the pain in my Achilles to go away! UGGGGgggh! It's driving me bonkers ... I'm SO ready to run!! The pain is improving, but I would LOVE for it to just DISAPPEAR!! One step at a time, literally!

Click "Next" to see the sunshine-y creation made by the ever-amazing Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to see the fabulous flower/gingham cards created by marvelous Melissa Stout!!

Fab Friday #212

The One Where Wendy Is Losing Her Mind. Yup ... that's me this week. Can't seem to keep my brain in focus. Welcome to Fab Friday ... where I not only used a WRONG COLOR in my creation (which I had done on TIME), but where I also went to bed and fell asleep and FORGOT to make my blog post. Sigh ... I blame the pandemic ... and 2020 ... and my dumb Achilles Tendonitis ... and garden gnomes ... because my husband told me that it is a F'RILLS news story that the world is suffering a TERRIBLE shortage of garden gnomes right now ... and that has my brain VERY concerned! Sigh ... it happens ...

I actually had fun making this card, and I really LIKE how it turned out, despite the fact that my Flirty Flamingo looks a LOT like the Calypso Coral I used instead! Makes me wanna be on a sandy beach somewhere ... ANYwhere ... with a good book and a slushy fruity drink in my hand and a HUGE umbrella overhead to protect me from the sun! Doesn't that sound AWESOME??!!??? 

Stamps: Timeless Tropical
Paper: Crumb Cake, Soft Sea Foam, Old Olive, Terracotta Tile, Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Terracotta Tile, Early Espresso, Versamark
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Dies, In the Tropics Dies, Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder, Frosted Epoxy Droplets, 3/16" Braided Linen Trim, Whisper White Embossing Powder

So just pretend that my Calypso Coral is actually Flirty Flamingo and you will be GOOD to GO!!

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

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

Progress ... finally ... at least a little bit!! Achilles seems to finally taking an upturn! I got to run on a zero G treadmill yesterday and it was AWESOME! I felt as heavy as a brick when they turned it off, though. It was very funny! Science is SOOO cool! Here's hoping I am as good as new before too much longer!!

Freaky Flower Garden

What a whirlwind of a weekend!! I spent the last four days up in Walla Walla with my besties, Cheryl Curtis and Bree Renwick. We decided to make our own fun with Stampin' Up's OnTour Virtual "Convention". We ate, relaxed in the sunshine, shopped, and of COURSE, STAMPED!!! Hopping around you should just have come from the creative Connie Tumm! She hasn't been able to hop with us for a while, so it is GREAT having her join us this month!!

One of the most funnest things to be able to do when you visit with other stamping friends is to play with THEIR stamping stuff!! Not gonna lie, it was SOOOO fun looking at some of Bree's lovely stamps and coming up with ideas to make with them.  I color the main image from the "Simply Succulents" stamp set with a variety of Stampin' Blends.  I initially stamped the image itself with some Basic Gray ink.  BAD choice!!! It ended looking up all muddy and kinda dull (which I should have expected, DUH!)!! I restamped the image again on some vellum cardstock using Memento ink and some black embossing powder. I then used the dies to cut the image again and laid it on top of my not-so-fancy colored image. Again ... not gonna lie ... I LOVE how it came out! Looks much more subtle and "succulent-y" this way, I think!!

Stamps: Simply Succulents
Paper: Soft Succulent, Gray Granite, Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Pattern Party DSP, Vellum Cardstock
Ink: Black Memento, Gray Granite; Stampin' Blends - Soft Succulent (Dark and Light), Smoky Slate (Dark and Light), Gray Granite (Dark and Light), Just Jade (Dark and Light), Granny Apple Green (Light), Flirty Flamingo (Dark and Light), Highland Heather (Dark and Light), Color Lifter
Accessories: Potted Succulents Dies, Stitched Nested Labels, Soft Succulent 3/8" Open Weave Ribbon, 2021-2023 In Color Jewels, Black Embossing Powder

I have been LOVING so many of the cards I have seen created with this UBER-gorgeous Art Gallery Bundle. I had a BLAST creating this card. And let me just tell y'all ... the Pattern Party DSP (which is a hostess offering in the upcoming new Stampin' Up Catalog) is a MUST OWN!! I love EVERY dang piece in the pack!! And it comes with a LOT!! You will need to order some at your very first chance. It's THAT good!

I also used a vellum layer on top of the word dies. They looked kind of flat to me and the vellum helped them pop a bit more.

Stamps: Art Gallery
Paper: Crumb Cake, Balmy Blue, Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock, Pattern Party DSP, Fine Art DSP
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Bumblebee, Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, Balmy Blue, Pear Pizzazz, Versamark

Accessories: Floral Gallery Dies, Whisper White Embossing Powder, 3/8" Fine Art Ribbon, Ornate Garden Ribbon Combo Pack (Old Olive), Artistry Blooms Adhesive-Backed Sequins

Next up??? Tami Hewlitt! There is not a SINGLE THING this woman creates that I do not LOVE!!

Around the World on Wednesday - Rainbow Monochrome Challenge

Lookie what is happening here TODAY!! I was asked (along with a few of my other Control 

Freak Blog-Hopping Friends) to join in on the Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop.  We really ARE hopping all around the world ... follow the links and you will see!  I feel so honored to have been asked to play along with their challenge this month.  Check it out!!

Based on our time zones, we were each assigned a "rainbow" color and asked to make a monochrome creation with it (basic colors were ok to add ... hence my black and white accents).  Based on my location, I was in the "Yellow Zone". I love me some yellow, so it was fun and each to come up with something so that I could play along!

I love that it is spring time.  Flowers are starting to peep up everywhere ... and I LOVE it!! I think I have finally given in to the fact that daisies have long been my favorite flower.  They are so happy, aren't they?? (And YES ... I do agree with Meg Ryan's assessment from "You've Got Mail" ... "Don't you think daisies are the happiest flower?" Why YES I DO!) I combined some old and new things on this card, and I really like how it turned out. It also has reminded me that I need to get working on my garden PRONTO!!

Stamps: Pansy Patch (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Small Daisy Punch, Scalloped Contours Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies,Ornate Frames Dies, Circles Dies, Bumblebee Gingham Ribbon, Painted Textured 3D Embossing Folder, Stapler

I shall be heading up to my BFF Bree's place this weekend with my OTHER BFF Cheryl to participate in Stampin' Up's OnTour Virtual Event.  We shall eat, stamp, laugh and learn. SO blessed to have the friends in my life that have come into it because of my love for paper crafting. VERY blessed indeed!!

Next up??? We are heading north of the US border to Canada and the talent of  Elaine de Montmoreency! A-MAZ-ING is all I have to say!!

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Monday Montage #187

Hard truth, friends. We are still having a pandemic ... and my life is boring ... your life is boring ... everybody's life is BORING!! I don't have anything fun, exciting or NEW to tell you about my universe. Except maybe that my hubby and I have both had BOTH of our COVID-19 vaccinations now ... so I kinda feel like a super hero. Except I'm still not going anywhere super exciting or doing anything super exciting because we are still having a pandemic. So there's that. I could tell you about what I am watching on Netflix ... but you have all probably already watched it. So that's not very exciting, either. However ... my BFF Cheryl ordered WAY more than I did from the 2021-2022 Stampin' Up Catalog Preorder. And she came over to play (she has also been vaccinated). And I played with her toys. So I guess THAT is EXCITING!! And it's Monday Montage time ... and I guess THAT is exciting, too. So perhaps I have underestimated my life.

PANSIES!!! There are PANSIES in the new catalog. I freakin' LOOOOOOVE pansies!! I always have! We learned a sweet song in church when I was a little girl. I can't NOT think of it every single time I look at a pansy anywhere. It is called "Little Purple Pansies." I can't get it out of my head. I had a TON of fun playing with all the different color combinations trying to come up with just the right one. I ended up coming up with several. What do you think??? I also love the Basic Border Dies and Scalloped Contours Dies. Since the Stitched Shapes Dies are retiring (WAAAAAAAAHHH!) I am really going to enjoy having something else to use on every dang card!

Stamps: Pansy Patch, Inspired Thoughts

Paper: Whisper White, Pansy Petals

Ink: Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Blackberry Bliss, Bumblebee, So Saffron, Poppy Parade, Real Red, Mango Melody, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen, Fresh Freesia, Wink of Stella

Accessories: Pansy Dies, Basic Borders Dies, Scalloped Contours Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Pastel Pearls, Linen Thread, Shimmery Crystal Effects

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 - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

I know you are all waiting on the edge of your seats for yet ANOTHER update on the very slow progress connected with the healing of my Achilles tendon. (Because this is a pandemic and we have NOTHING exciting to do, right??) It seems that I am actually making SOME progress!! I have gotten to a point where it isn't painful all the dang time all the dang day. And I have taken a few walks around the neighborhood and I didn't die ... and my foot didn't fall off, so I guess that is a good thing, right???

Click "Next" to see the fantastical created by my other BFF Bree Renwick ... and "Back" to see the lovely things from another BFF of mine, Melissa Stout!!

Fab Friday #211

What a CRAZY week I have had!! Rain, snow, hot spring days, COVID Shots (round two), helping my mama, having out-of-town company for Easter ... happy to have had a little bit of time to play with my stampin' goodies for this week's Fab Friday Blog Hop!!

I have always been a big fan of pinks and grays together ... so very pretty! I have had this Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder on backorder for what seems like FOREVER, so I was very happy when it arrived and that I finally have had a chance to play with it!

Stamps: Many Messages
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo
Ink: Whisper White, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Dies, Stitched Triangles Dies, Well Written Dies, Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder, Pastel Pearls

I really liked this one!! 

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

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

I am on what feels like round 457 of doc visits, PT sessions and trying to slooooowly move myself back into activity ... my Achilles tendonitis is still stubbornly hanging on!! I am moving into week number six of twice-a-week therapy appointments.  I know that progress is being made ... but DANG ... it sure does seem to be dragging along!!