And Then I Forgot ...

Truth be told ... I went through a VERY dry spell with my papercrafting for a couple of years. Don't get me wrong ... I STILL loved it ... and STILL managed to squeak things out from time to time ... but after The Great Flood of December 2016, getting everything repaired, cleaned and put back in order for me to be able to do some serious crafting took FOR-EV-ER!! Since the beginning of this year I have found myself going through crafty marathons where I create more than ONE thing at the same sitting. It is AMAZINGLY fun and therapeutic. Having said all that, I know can admit that I have created a handful of cards that I promptly FORGOT about!! They have just been sitting on the counter in my craft room and not getting the love and attention they deserve! How SAD is THAT??!!

Which brings me to this card. I made it well over a month ago, and am just remembering to do something about it!!! I borrowed the vase punch and stamp set from my bestie, Cheryl. I started out with something COMPLETELY different from the finished product, but that's how the creative process works sometimes, isn't it??

Stamps: Vibrant Vases
Paper: Crumb Cake, Tranquil Tide, Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Tranquil Textures DSP
Ink: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss, Soft Sea Foam, Tranquil Tide
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Vase Builder Punch, Leaf Punch, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Simply Scored

Dashing off to get my day going in a positive direction. Laundry, errands, cleaning, doggie groomer appointment ... day is going to be pretty busy, so I had better get with it!! Ta-ta!!!

{Cup}Cakes are ALWAYS a Good Idea!

If I haven't mentioned it before, I have a VERY large extended family. YEARS ago I started writing all the birthdays/anniversaries for all of our Weixler family members and giving them to everyone for Christmas. THEN, kids were growing up, getting married, and having babies of their own. It got to be a HUGE amount of work AND a HUGE amount of expense to make these calendars (which I was now adding family photos to AND printing out in color for each and every family member who was living in their own home). I finally gave in some years back and just settled on creating family lists with birthdays, anniversaries, addresses, phone numbers and the like. They get fixed up pretty and emailed to all the family peeps. SOOOO, because it's fun and I don't have enough things to do, I send birthday cards to all of the extended Weixler family members (I gave up on the anniversaries and decided a text to the anniversary couple will have to be good!). You may have noticed that a LOT of my cards are of the birthday variety, and now you know WHY!

CUPPYCAKES!!! Oh man ... oh MAN!! I LOVE ME SOME ADORABLE LITTLE CUPPYCAKES! Hoping that my cute little cousin will like them, too!!

Stamps: Birthday Cheer
Paper: Blushing Bride, Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Butterfly Gala DSP (recently retired)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Blushing Bride (applied with an aqua painter to background)
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Detailed Birthday Edgelets, Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stitched Rectangles Dies

Next week OnStage will be happening here in good ol' Salt Lake City! Getting VERY excited for my BFF, Bree Renwick, to come stay with me! AND to be able to hang with my very best besties and crafty SU friends!!! Such a good time is ALWAYS had!! Squeeeeee!!!

Fab Friday #160

I wasn't gonna do it ... nope-nope-nope, I told myself! Of course, I KNEW on some level that I would CAVE IN!! And I DID!!! The Well Said Stamps/Framelits are SOOOOO VERRRYYY WONDERFUL!! Why did I wait SO LONG before diving in and buying them??? REALLY hoping that they will be carried over into the catalog for next year!

This week the Fab Friday folks are playing with a VERY spring-y color combination ... lots of lovely colors to make you happy!!

Stamps: Well Said
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Highland Heather, Lemon Lime Twist, Flirty Flamingo, Botanical Butterfly DSP
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Petal Pink
Accessories: Petal Pair Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Well Written Framelits Dies, Classic Label Punch

I worried that I wouldn't be able to use all the colors ... but I did!







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

Looking forward to a nice hike tomorrow with my hubby and some good friends ... OH!! And we are going to see The Scarlet Pimpernel tonight (my son's girlfriend is in the cast)! I've never seen it before, so I'm pretty excited about it!

Freakin' for the LITTLES!

Is there anything that is happier than a kid on their birthday??? I think NOT!!! Remember when you were little and it seemed like your birthday (and Christmas and summer vacation!) took FOR-EV-ER to come around??? This month the Control Freaks are making cards/creations for kids! Wasn't Melissa Davies' stuff SUPER SPOT ON??? I had so much fun making the two cards I did ... pretty sure they will add to some smiles on a couple of birthdays!

Not gonna lie ... this is one of the VERY FIRST sets I ordered with the preview of SU's catalog last year. AAAAAAND ... it has been sitting and gathering dust since it came!! I felt a bit intimidated by all the cute little images and dies. It did take a little while to get all the bits stamped and cut, but it was VERY fun!!

And TAAA-DAAAAA!!! Here is the pop-up on the inside!!! It's a freakin' ROLLER COASTER!!! I can't stop smiling when I think of the face of one of my little cousins when this gets opened! I mean, seriously ... what's NOT to be happy about with this???

Stamps: Let the Good Times Roll
Paper: Blueberry Bushel, Grapefruit Grove, Berry Burst, Call Me Clover, Whisper White, Wood Textures DSP
Ink: Blueberry Bushel, Grapefruit Grove, Berry Burst, Call Me Clover, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Thrill Ride Framelits Dies, Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

I have had a similar experience with this froggy set. It has been sitting and sitting and waiting and waiting for me to pick it up!! Coloring and incorporating DSP from THREE different stacks was very fun!!

Stamps: So Hoppy Together
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP, Garden Impressions DSP, Classic Garage DSP
Ink: Memento Black; Stampin' Blends - Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Petal Pink
Accessories: Stitched Labels Thinlits, Flourish Thinlits Dies, 1" Circle Punch, Granny Apple Green 1/2" Textured Weave Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Metallic Pearls

Next up???  ... Creative Kelly Acheson!! Be ready for MORE smiles, because her projects are just SO VERY HAPPY!

Monday Montage #133

Happy President's Day!!! As we are already floating through the middle of February, it's that time of year again. Funny, but I should've made some sort of patriotic card for this week's Monday Montage blog hop. I didn't even THINK of it!!! A friend of mine and I went to the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City to listen to Music and the Spoken Word (featuring the Tabernacle Choir). My friend seemed a bit bewildered by the lineup of patriotic songs ... until I issued a reminder that we were having President's Day this week! The music was GREAT!!!

I am all over the butterflies again. The Butterfly Gala DSP (that was available as a SAB free item) is soooo good. All of the butterflies can be easily punched out with the Butterfly Duet punch. Very little stamping involved in making this card ... but y'all know how I am about butterflies ... they just make me HAPPY!

Stamps: Picture Perfect Birthday
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Grapefruit Grove, Butterfly Gala DSP 
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Stitched Labels Framelits, Subtle Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Butterfly Duet Punch, Faceted Dots, 1/4" Metallic Striped Ribbon

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

If you are looking for a good binge-worthy show to watch on your day off (if you are lucky enough to get President's Day off ... which I am NOT!) ... Netflix just released a new 10-episode series called "The Umbrella Academy". It's about a family of misfits that all have some sorta crazy super power. They are pretty dysfunctional, but it was highly entertaining!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... much to love about BOTH of them!

Fab Friday #157

As I sit here eating some chocolates and watching the last few episodes of A&E's most EXCELLENT version of Pride and Prejudice (started on Valentine's Day yesterday). I cannot love this series any MORE than I do! I watch it at least once a year ... but more often than not TWICE a year!! It's sooooo good!

This week's Fab Friday Challenge is a wonderful little sketch ... I actually had this entire card thought out in my head before I even started it. I think I finished it up in less than 15 minutes!! I LOVE it when that happens!

Stamps: Geared Up, Part of My Story
Paper: Whisper White, Classic Garage DSP, Vellum, Silver Foil
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Garage Gears Thinlits Dies, 1/4" Metallic Striped Ribbon, Metallic Pearls

I'm sure you will all find this a great source of inspiration!











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

Due to crummy weather and road conditions, I didn't get to take my road trip up to Walla Walla to visit my BFF Bree Renwick! DRAT!!! I think we shall be FaceTime stamping today!! And maybe I will just stay inside and stay warm and go NOWHERE else!!! Have a lovely weekend!

Monday Montage #132

Here we are again ... time to play with the Monday Montage team!!! And guess WHAT??!!?? We have added two new friends to the lineup ... soooo happy to have Charlet Mallet and Cheryl Curtis as part of our crew. Y'all are gonna LOVE them as much as I do!!

This card just makes me think of a picnic ... and springtime ... and warmer temperatures.  How about you??? I will be sad when Sale-a-Bration is over and the lovely gingham paper is all gone.

Stamps: Butterfly Gala
Paper: Balmy Blue, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP
Ink: Balmy Blue
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Butterfly Elements, Metallic Pearls, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, 1/8" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon





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!!

Just watched the most BORING Superbowl of ALL time (not that I am a huge fan of football anyway) ... the commercials were the best part ... aside from the halftime show with Adam Levine and Maroon 5 ... SWOOOOON!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... much to love about BOTH of them!

Fab Friday #156

Happy Fab Friday!!! I'm hoping this day finds you keeping yourselves WARM (especially my friends in the PolarVortex Midwest!)!! Lucky for us, the super-cold temperatures haven't gripped Utah. Question for the sub-sub-freezing peeps ... what do you do when your pets need to go potty??? -51 degrees outside seems it would be IMPOSSIBLE to let them out!! YIKES!!!

I was feeling the need for something evoking some warmer temperatures ... and this week's Fab Friday color combo made it EASY!!! I could've gone the "Valentine" route with these colors, but chose instead to bloom some flowers. What do you think??

Stamps: Incredible Like You
Paper: Whisper White, Grapefruit Grove
Ink: Grapefruit Grove, Lovely Lipstick, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Lovely Lipstick Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty Label Punch

Pretty little combo, isn't it???








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
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

I'm off work today (HOORAY!), and am going to lunch with a friend. Then, this evening, I am doing a night hike with another group of friends ... pretty sure I will be feeling it tomorrow!!

Let's Eat CAKE!

Cold, clear and beautiful ... that's what it's like outside here today!!! I think I'm going to have to go for a run at some point. I actually LOVE running in the cold. With the right gear, it's absolutely PERFECT. Brrrrr!!

I made this little card the other night ... just haven't had a chance to post it, yet! I am sooooooooo loving the Gingham Gala DSP (which YOU can earn for FREE by placing a $50 order!)!! It's just sooooo good!!

I used my Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Blends on the little flower, the edging on the cake, and to make the ombre effect on the CAKE letters. The outline is in Blackberry Bless ... I choose to believe this is a DELICIOUS purple cake!!! I love cake ... sigh ... perhaps I need to make one for myself today!

Stamps: Amazing Life
Paper: Blackberry Bliss, Grapefruit Grove, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP
Ink: Blackberry Bliss; Stampin' Blends - Rich Razzleberry, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Stitched Labels Framelits, Grapefruit Grove Nature's Twine, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots

I am feeling pretty proud of myself! I had a BUNCH of new stamp sets (thanks to the Occasions/SAB preorder ... and again thanks to the Occasions/SAB catalogs going LIVE)! I mean ... I had a STACK!! I have used almost every last one ... I am down to about three sets, so stay tuned for some posts sharing those VERY soon!!! I feel validated in having ordered them all, because they will ALL get used!!!

Monday Montage #131

Ooooo-la-la! It's time for our Monday Montage Blog Hop! YAY!! I had so much fun making this card ... I have been dying to make a card with the Garage Gears ever since I got it. And TODAY was the DAY!!

I tried my darnedest to make the gears look "rusty" ... with a combination of sponged Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze and Bermuda Bay (interspersed with a few layers of clear embossing powder), I think turned out pretty good!

Stamps: Geared Up, Crackle Paint
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Classic Garage DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Garage Gears Thinlits Dies, Classic Garage Metal Elements, Linen Thread, Clear Embossing Powder



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 - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

I have been in and out my back door for over the past hour ... it's a lunar eclipse and it has been SOOOO fascinating to watch. I love watching such miraculous events and realizing how HUGE our universe is. It's AMAZING, isn't it???

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... their projects are STELLAR!

Sale-a-Brate EVERY Occasion ... with the Freaks!

Is there any BETTER excuse to stay inside on a cold, wintry day than to get crafty??? I don't think that there is!!After a short training run this morning, I came home, cleaned up and then sat down with my iPad (for HULU binging!) and some crafty supplies so I could finish creating for this month's Control Freaks Blog Tour. If you just got here from Melissa Stout's Blog ... isn't she FREAKIN' AMAZING???

I have loved coloring since I was a little girl. I have been known to pull out a coloring book and crayons ... or colored pencils ... and just go to town ... STILL. My Stampin' Blends are also SUPER FUN to play with. This Lovely Lattice image (which you can earn with any purchase of $50 RIGHT NOW ... for FREE!) is the BEST for coloring. LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE.

Stamps: Lovely Lattice (SAB), Piece of Cake (Occasions)
Paper: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Watercolor
Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Black Memento; Stampin' Blends - Flirty Flamingo, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Trio Corner Punch, Tufted Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Old Olive Linen Thread

Saw this puppy stamp set/punch bundle and nearly lost my MIND!!! The doggie looks like my sweet Juniper ... who is getting ready to celebrate her 7 mo. birthday next week. Oh the puppies!!! This image is happy, along with the little footprints, doggie house and bowl, right??? The PUNCH. I don't think you will be able to get me to give it up unless you pry it from my cold, dead little fingers!!!

Stamps: Happy Tails
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Red Glimmer
Ink: Memento Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories: Dog Builder Punch, Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Classic Label Punch, Stitched Labels Thinlits, 1/4" Metallic Striped Ribbon


Next up???  ... Super Cindy Elam!! One of these days I'm going to go and visit her on her lovely property with all her lovely creativity! It will be the best time EVER!!

Fab Friday #155

As I type this we are bracing for a full-on-blow-your-socks-off winter storm! I'm actually kind of excited!! We had a very dry winter last year, so this year has been awesome! The Salt Lake Valley is regularly in the top 3 cities in the entire US of A for bad quality air during the winter months. Not so much this year! We have had several small storms that have kept the air inversion under control. The storm tomorrow is especially welcome because I will be home all day, and I won't have to drive in it at ALL if I don't want to. YIPPPEEEE!!! I may go for a peaceful walk (I love walking in fresh snow!). I most DEFINITELY will spend some time stamping!!

Speaking of stamping ... here's the card I made for this week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge. I probably went a little overboard with my interpretation (in other words ... I kinda over did it!), but it's always fun to have something to look at as a starting point, right??

Stamps: Piece of Cake
Paper: Highland Heather, Whisper White, Vellum, Gingham Gala
Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Cake Builder Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Classic Label Punch, 5/8" Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

I added a little more to this sketch than is actually here ... hope you can get some fun inspiration from it as well!








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
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

I'm looking forward to a weekend of not having much to do. I'm not quite sure I have had a weekend like this in MANY months!! It's going to be GLORIOUS!!

Flutterby, Butterflies!

#ALLTHEBUTTERFLIES! Seriously, you guys!! I am a PUSHOVER for anything with a butterfly ... stamps, punches, dies, paper ... I want it ALL!! Hence, today's card ...

Stamp, punch, color and VOILA!!! Easy, peasy!! I didn't even try anything overly fancy with this ... just stamp, punch and color (I already said that, right??)! The punch that comes in this bundle had TWO butterflies in it ... a little one stacked on top of a big one (and they line up perfectly with the DSP ... which I didn't use for its butterflies on this particular creation).

You KNOW you NEED this, right???

Stamps: Butterfly Gala
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Botanical Butterfly DSP
Ink: Black Memento, Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Stitched Labels Framelits, Butterfly Duet Punch, Pinewood Planks Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Black/Silver 1/4" Metallic Striped Ribbon, Classic Label Punch, Metallic Pearls

I have starting training for the Outclimb Cancer Challenge, which is on March 2. I do stair workouts a couple of times a week ... this is my FAVORITE event of the entire year!! So many good people. Got to train with two of my besties this morning in the dark and cold ... but the conversation was good and made the stairs melt into the background as we climbed up 6 flights about 20 times. I am grateful to be healthy enough to tackle such crazy things!! Have a great day!!

A Little Yellow and Gray ...

True confessions ... I had my book group friends over at my house last Thursday night. And I was hustling up until the last minute to get the remainder of my Christmas put away. Alas, the ornaments were all over the coffee table in my front room. I'm a little OCD when it comes to putting them away ... each one is individually wrapped and tucked into it's own compartment in one of the several stacking ornament keeper containers that I have. I ran out of time ... I scooped up all my ornaments and just put them in the boxes. I took them downstairs to my craft room and set them out on every available flat surface I have. This is where the confession comes in ... they are STILL sitting there!!! I need to get them out of the way so I can STAMP some more!! Sigh ... that is my goal for tonight once I get home from work!

In the meantime, I'm sharing this cute little card I made LAST week before the piles of ornaments happened. I wasn't going to use the retired Smoky Slate gingham ribbon, but once I laid it on there just to "see" I couldn't stop myself!! I want gingham ribbon in ALLTHECOLORS!!! It's just SOOOOO much fun!! I also ended up adding the little rhinestone on the oval at the last minute. Not sure WHAT touched my card ... but SOMEthing definitely did ... it left a mark!!! So the rhinestone rescued me!!

Stamps: Bloom by Bloom, Beauty Abounds
Paper: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP
Ink: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Stitched Labels Framelits, Pretty Label Punch, Rhinestone Basics, Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Smoky Slate Gingham Ribbon (retired)

This week is the FIRST week in OHSOLONG that I don't have my calendar chock FULL of soooo many things to do!! I hope to get myself a bit organized ... and perhaps binge a little Netflix whilst crafting!! Sounds like a pretty good way to spend some of my down tie, don'tcha think???

Zipping On By!

This is going to be a VERY quick blog post! I have a SUPER busy day ahead (it hasn't started out super stellar ... puppy ate my left AirPod!!! Grrrrr!!).

I LOVED making this card ... and YES! you DO need the new Bitty Blooms Punch Pack!! You can make the most EXCELLENT flower bouquets with it!

Stamps:  Incredible Like You
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Lovely Lipstick, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, Pineapple Punch
Ink: Black Memento
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Bitty Blooms Punch Pack, Tufted Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots, Black/Silver 1/4" Striped Metallic Ribbon

See??? SUPER quick blog post!! Hope you all have a lovely day!!