TGIF #400 - Product Challenge

Let's play! This week's TGIF Challenge is a Product Spotlight ... we each picked something we wanted to showcase and ran with it!

Soooooo ... I have been working on my Christmas cards for-EV-ER! The past two weeks have been pretty intense with holiday prep going on left and right! Lucky for me I had some parts leftover from making the Christmas cards, so I just used them!

I used the Tree Lot Dies to make this lovely little forest scene! A couple of the "snow" layers served as a mask so that I could create the background by sponging over them with some Evening Evergreen ink. 

See how fun?? I also used a strip of Evening Evergreen embossed with the Whimsical Woodland 3D Embossing folder. I used a sentiment from Beautifully Happy to turn this into a wintry birthday card.

Stamps: Beautifully Happy

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen

Ink: Versamark, Evening Evergreen

Accessories:  Tree Lot Dies, White Embossing Powder, Whimsical Woodland 3D Embossing Folder

I have mailed Christmas cards, delivered neighbor and finished shopping ... now I need to WRAP, cook and clean up! Can't WAIT to spend time with my family!

TGIF #396 - Inspiration Challenge

Happy Post-North American Thanksgiving (aka Black Friday!!)!!! Hoping that those of you who,celebrated had a wonderful day full of food, family and friends! This week we are doing a TGIF Inspiration Challenge!

Wreaths have always brought me a sense of peace. Looking at the greenery in the inspiration pic and seeing the word “peace” made me think about how I really wanted to make a wreath. Having just received my preorder for the 2023 January-June Catalog, I knew that the Citrus Fun Bundle could help me make a lovely wintry wreath!

I had a good time creating the splatter all around my card with a Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blend by flicking the brush tip of the pen against the edge of the cap on the pen and sim it at the card … pretty fun, eh?

Stamps: Citrus Fun

Paper: Whisper White, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen

Ink: Versamark, Soft Succulent, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Polished Pink

Accessories:  Citrus Dies, Natural Finish 7/8" Ribbon, Citrus Embossing Folder, Pastel Sequins (coming soon), White Embossing Powder, Gold 1/4” Shimmer Ribbon

Grateful to have been invited to be on the Challenge Team with these fine ladies, and VERY grateful for the friendships I have made because of my participation as a demonstrator for Stampin’ Up! Counting my blessings!

Seeing Spots with the Freaks!

We are seeing SPOTS and CIRCLES this month with the Control Freaks! You should just have come from the the wonderfully creative Bree Renwick's blog ... and she NAILED the challenge with a GREAT masculine card! I know I have mentioned before that I struggle with "dude" cards. One thing for sure is that Bree does NOT!!

Since we are still in the heat of summer, I am STILL thinking all things fruity! I stole the little citrus wedge image from the Cup of Tea stamp set and stamped it in Polished Pink, Parakeet Party and Pale Papaya (soooo many "P" colors!)! Lots of diecutting, but I love the way it turned out!

Stamps: Cup of Tea
Paper: Whisper White, Parakeet Party, Basic Black

Ink: Polished Pink, Parakeet Party, Pale Papaya, Black Memento

Accessories: Teacup Dies, Black & White 1/4" Gingham Ribbon

I used the little tea bag tag dies to add a little dangling sentiment to this. I used to LOVE making dangling sentiments! I haven't done it for a while and it makes me happy!

Next up? Deb Henderson! Her butterfly creation is SPOT ON!!

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Monday Montage #202

Why do the weekends seem to be over before they have actually even started?? I'm not quite sure ... but I think I need one more weekend! I am happy that I had some time to play with my crafty things and get some relaxing creative time. We have had the most lovely and long fall (something we did NOT get last year). It's starting to get colder ... I think we will have snow before too long!

I don't often go "muted" with my color schemes, but having started with the understated but beautiful Bloom Where You're Planted DSP, I was really feeling the vibe. Since green is my favorite color, using Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen with some Gray Granite helped me achieve exactly the feel I was going for.

Stamps: Biggest Wish

Paper: Gray Granite, Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, Bloom Where You're Planted DSP

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Ornate Frames Dies, Sunflowers Dies, Clear and Frosted Epoxy Droplets, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Whisper White Baker's Twine

I love layers and textures all kind of mashed together ... and I have been using more and more Whisper White Embossing Powder over Versamark this year ... love cutting around the sentiment on colored cardstock to add a little bit of a "pop" to the overall card.

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

Monday Montage Hoppers
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
- NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
- NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner 

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run 
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc 

 Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to visit Melissa Stout!! Their creations are stellar!!

Monday Montage #198

I THINK I might be given permission from my foot doctor this Tuesday to DROP the BOOT! Man oh man oh man ... I sincerely HOPE that happens! I'd like to go on a short and easy walk to see how it all feels! Sheesh!! Wish me luck!! Y

FINALLY got my craft room all spiffed up, so stamping for this week's Monday Montage Blog Hop was SUPER DUPER FUN!! I could find everything and clean up was a SNAP!!

Elegantly Said - Stamps and Punch!!! YAAAASSS!!! So fun, so pretty and so, well, ELEGANT!! I braided some linen thread to tie around the punched Elegant Tag.

Stamps: Elegantly Said

Paper: Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Fresh 

Freesia

Ink: Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink, Mango Melody, Sahara Sand, Soft Succulent, Versamark

Accessories: Whisper White Embossing Powder, Elegantly Label Punch, Linen Thread, Pastel Pearls

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
- NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK 

Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog 
Melissa Stout - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

 Click "Next" to see Amy O'Neal... and "Back" to visit Julie Warnick!! LOVE these ladies!!

Monday Montage #196

Since last I posted I have made a whirlwind one-day trip to Disneyland, had surgery on my foot (YAY FINALLY!) and had a birthday (27 again!)!! I am pretty much confined to sitting on my backside ... I am supposed to keep all weight off of my foot, so this has resulted in a bunch of awkward hopping and sliding around on my bum (when the crutches are too far away for me to reach). Coupled with the amount of pain meds I am taking (which should be significantly decreased in the next two days), I am feeling quite accomplished when I can go out to the porch and get my mail from the mailbox! Sheesh!! I am SOOO happy that I am on the road to something that will look a little more like "normal" ... whatever THAT is!

I had a very hard time focusing my brain enough to come up with this week's card.  Since many of my fave items are still packed up in tote bags that I took with me to make a lovely weekend getaway to Bear Lake with the fam a few weeks ago, I struggled trying to do everything with one leg and half a brain! I need to play with this batik stuff a bunch more when I am feeling more like myself! It's pretty fun stuff!

Stamps: Batik Boutique, Biggest Wish

Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White, Polished Pink, Granny Apple Green

Ink: Polished Pink, Granny Apple Green

Accessories: Scalloped Contours Dies, Batik Dies, Hammered Metal Embossing Folder, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Pastel Pearls

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!!

Time for me to go back to sleep and let my body do some more healing ... I am SOOOO thrilled to feel like I am actually going to make some progress now and work myself back into running and hiking and such. Baby steps, but I will get there!

Click "Next" to see Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to visit Melissa Stout!! Very inspiring!

Monday Montage #193

IT'S SO FREAKIN' HOT!!! Ok ... sorry for yelling at ya! I'm sure most of you are feeling the same exact way.  Like, I break into a sweat just SITTING! What is THAT all about??? To be fair, I'm still wearing an orthopedic boot on my super-dumb foot (and I don't think it is actually helping at ALL!)!! That thing is heavy and HOT! I haven't stamped for two weeks, either! I have spent the last nine nights sleeping on the couch at my mama's house while my brother (who lives with her) has been out of town. Going to be VERY nice to sleep in my own bed in my own house tonight!

This card looked a LOT better in my head. I guess it isn't horrible, but I was kind of disappointed with the end result, and too hot and tired to clean my craft room to make it easier to create, so this is what I got.  I FINALLY got my Expressions in Ink DSP that has been on backorder FOREVER. And it is lovely and beautiful and puts a smile on my face, so there's that.

Stamps: Elegantly Said

Paper: Polished Pink, Whisper White, Expressions in Ink DSP

Ink: Polished Pink, Versamark

Accessories: Scalloped Contours Dies, Elegant Tag Punch, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Simply Elegant Gold Trim, Artistry Blooms Adhesive Backed Sequins, Checks and Dots Embossing Folder, Gold Embossing Powder, Trio Corner Punch

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 - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
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 go back to the foot doc on Tuesday. I'm pretty sure he's gonna tell me that we need to do an MRI, which will probably lead to some sort of surgery. I am NOT HAPPY about this since I feel like a slug and haven't been able to do anything for MONTHS. UGH! Maybe I will get lucky and it will work itself out. What I REALLY need is a trip to Disneyland ... sigh ...

Click "Next" to see Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to visit Melissa Stout!! They inspire me every single time!

Freaks & New Catalog Goodies

I think I melted this week. Or at least parts of me have. I started wearing an orthopedic boot last Tuesday ... and it was a record high for the middle of June here in Salt Lake City ... 107 degrees!! And every day since then has been SO.DANG.HOT. I really need a pool in my backyard. Or a hot tub. Or both. I guess I will have to pull the kiddie pool (that we bought for my doggie) out and soak in that. At least I got the chance to play with some of my new catalog goodies for this month's Control Freaks Blog Tour!  Cindy Elam made me feel all sunshine-y and happy with her beautiful creations in shades of yellow ... VERY pretty!

 

I have a friend in Florida whose son has been a CHAMP through all of the difficult medical challenges he has faced since birth. I made him this little "cheer me up" card following some very intense surgery he recently had.  He is AMAZING and such a fighter!! Hope it brought a smile to his face as much as it did to my heart to make it for him!

Stamps: Peekaboo Farm
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Bloom Where You're Planted DSP

Ink: Black Memento, Stampin' Blends in Blushing Bride, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Smoky Slate, Light Basic Black, Petal Pink

Accessories: Rectangle Stamp Punch, Layering Circles Dies, Basic Borders Dies, Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder, Artistry Blooms Adhesive Backed Sequins, Linen Thread

I have recently become OBSESSED with indoor succulents. I am not always successful in helping them survive, but I AM learning! My daughter has been WAY into plants the past few years and it has kind of rubbed off onto me! I made this card for her for her birthday ... it was so fun playing with the dies, DSP, stamps and embossing folder in the whole Bloom Where You're Planted Suite of goodies ... it is one of my new favorites! I even braided some Whisper White Baker's Twine to hang my little basket from. I remember learning how to macrame as a young girl waaaayyy back in the 1970's, and it kinda cracks me up that it is all coming back around again!

Stamps: Plentiful Plants, Garden Birdhouses (sentiment)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Cinnamon Cider, Whisper White, Evening Evergreen, Bloom Where You're Planted DSP
Ink: Versamark, Cinnamon Cider

Accessories: Perfect Plants Dies, Stitched Triangle Dies, Basic Borders Dies, Macrame 3D Embossing Folder, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Stitched Greenery Die, Whisper White Baker's Twine

Next up??? Melissa Stout! Her cards are OUT of this WORLD!!

Fab Friday #216

Here we are again ... It's Fab Friday Time!! I have THREE blog hops this weekend ... and I managed to get everything ready for two of them before we left town for a very short little vacay. YAY ME!! 

It is soooooo hoooooot!! As of Tuesday, I have been confined to a boot for my funky Achilles tendon ... and I get to wear it every dang day, all day, for at least a MONTH!! Isn't it FUN that Salt Lake City hit a record high for the middle of June of 107 degrees on Tuesday?? Joy of JOYS!!! I choose to believe that this will all be totally worth it in a month!! Crossing my fingers!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this color combo! It feels so fresh, doesn't it??!? I still think that Granny Apple Green is one of my favorite all-time SU colors. It's so stinkin' HAPPY!! And green IS my favorite color!! 

Stamps: Artistically Inked
Paper: Whisper White, Granny Apple Green, So Saffron, Fresh Freesia, Flirty Flamingo

Ink: Fresh Freesia

Accessories: Checks and Dots Embossing Folders, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Basic Borders Dies, Large and Small Daisy Punch, Pastel Pearls

See??? TOTALLY fresh!!

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
Brenda Myers

I will be motoring around on a little knee scooter this Saturday at an air show up in Rexburg, Idaho. I think it will be some sort of miracle (personal record?) if I don't faceplate at least once or twice during the next month due to this funky boot ... it's big and clunky and awkward ... and my dog keeps trying to trip me in it!! Here's hoping that she doesn't succeed!!!

Fab Friday #214

EEEEEEeeep!! You GUUUUYYYSSS!!! I am IN LOVE with this year's new In Colors!! I mean ... COME ON!! What is NOT to love about these???? Join our Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge friends this week as we play with the 2021-2023 In Colors!! They are just sooooo very purdy, aren't they???

All I did for this card was cut out one of everything (pretty much) using the Pierced Blooms Dies ... then I just started sticking them to the front of my creation, Easy. Peasy.

Stamps: Sweet Strawberry
Paper: Whisper White, Evening Everglade, Soft Succulent, Polished Pink, Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya
Ink: Polished Pink

Accessories: Pierced Blooms Dies, Hammered Metal 3D Embossing 

Folder

These are some of my favorite In Colors yet!! And they look FABULOUS together!!

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
Brenda Myers

I am thinking I need a SERIOUS vacation ... like, a MONTH LONG!! All expenses paid and no one to visit or no place I HAVE to be ... just someplace warm, exotic and NEW!! How about you guys??? 

Who's with me??????

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!!