Monday Montage #102

This week has been QUITE the adventure!! And the colors of autumn are in full swing ... they are absolutely STUNNING and GORGEOUS!!!! So happy I had some new fall-themed "toys" to create with this week for Monday Montage!

Purple leaves??? Why YES!!! I am NOT kidding when I say I have seen just about EVERY color of leaf this past week on my outdoor adventures ... and also some SNOW!! But I'll get to that in a minute ...

Stamps: Colorful Season
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Berry Bliss, Sahara Sand, Wood Texture DSP
Ink: Sahara Sand, Berry Bliss, Early Espresso
Accessories: Layering Circle Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits, Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Polka Dot Basics Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon

My hubby and I and a couple of our friends flew to Leadville, Colorado on Thursday. What in the HECK is in Leadville, Colorado, you ask??? It just so happens that the airport with the highest elevation of any airport in the US is there ... and when you are friends with and married to Airplane Geeks ... well, sometimes stuff like this just happens. Weather was cold but BEAUTIFUL when we landed. We went to breakfast at a great little small-town cafe. When we went back to the airport we were SURROUNDED by clouds and it started to SNOW!! What the HECK??? It's only the first week of OCTOBER!!! So, we were stranded over night until the weather cleared. It was a VERY chilly 26 degrees when we took off. The views of the mountains were spectacular ... and as we got closer to Salt Lake City the mountains were COVERED in an amazing display of autumnal magic!!! I'm getting up early tomorrow to go for a run. I LOVE the sights and smells of fall!

Click "Back" for Kaitlyn Zumbach and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... BEAUTIFUL projects by both of these ladies!

Mon

Monday Montage #100!!!

ONE HUNDRED!!! I can't BELIEVE this is Monday Montage #100!!!! How COOL is THAT???? These girls are A-MAZ-ING!!! I am still SO thrilled that they let me play with them ... I mean, I am STILL blown away with all the talent in this group!!

This card is a re-do of a RE-DO!!! Ya know when you have such a GREAT VISION of what you want to make IN YOUR HEAD ... and when you make it ya just look at it at go, "Meh ..."??? Well ... that's this card for me. I made it once ... took it apart ... made it again ... and this is my THIRD attempt!!! Not sure WHY I have struggled with this one, but this is the REVISED-REVISION ... and it's STAYING!!

Stamps: Daisy Delight
Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, So Saffron, Wood Texture DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Daisy Punch, Seaside Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Hearth & Home Thinlits Dies, Night of Navy 1/2" Gingham Ribbon, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, Mini Stapler

Bree Renwick and I did TWO races last weekend at Disneyland (10K and Half Marathon) ... not gonna lie ... they were BRUTAL because of the HEAT!!! It was 101 degrees with 44% humidity when we FINISHED that Half in the MORNING (started at about 5:45AM)!!! TOOO-TOOO hot!!! I did another half marathon just yesterday and it felt SOOOO much easier with the temps staring in the 60's ... pretty sure we are NOT gonna do a Disney Run again unless it is in JANUARY!!

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

Mon

Fab Friday #113

Fe-fi-fo-fum ... messes all around and they are NO fun!!! I am struggling to get motivated to clean my house. NOT kidding. I think I have piles in EVERY room. I kinda hate it!! But, apparently, not enough to jump in with full force!! I feel the change coming ... and every time I try to stamp or create I feel like I need to get a GRIP on my life! I wanna stamp for REALS, people!! I need to order some new catalog stuff ... then I will feel more of a motivation to clean up the chaos!! YIKES!

Stamps: NONE!
Paper: Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Blushing Bride
Ink: NONE!
Accessories: Spring Flowers Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Square Punch, Window Box Thinlits Dies, Silver Thread, Wooden Heart

Simple, but FUN!!











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

Lucky for me, I don't work today or Memorial Day ... or even the day AFTER Memorial Day!!! I consider myself VERY lucky!!!

Monday Montage #92

Marvelous Monday Montage!!! And I'm just about 12 days away from my daughter's wedding day!!! AAAAAaaaack!!! I will be SO happy to to the actual wedding day ... that way I will have done everything that can or WILL get done and I can just sit back and enjoy!! (Wait ... the sit back part is probably not until a couple of days AFTER the wedding is over ...)

I have been feeling in a SUPER creative black hole lately. I sit and stare at my craft supplies and WILL them to make themselves into something ... and they don't ... sigh. So I've been perusing the interwebz looking for something new. Or something old that LOOKS new. Which is where I came up with this nifty accordion fold card. I guess I have never seen this before! So it was very fun to make!

Stamps: Little Cuties
Paper: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Tasty Treats  DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Botanical Buildings Thinlits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Mini Stapler

Just an observation ... WHY is it that the parents (ok, the MOM) of the bride does MOST of the work for the wedding ... and pays for most of the stuff for the wedding ... and the BRIDE gets to go on a VACATION when it's all said and done???? Seems kinda unfair, don't it???

In the mean time, click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... LOVELOVELOVE!!!

Fab Friday #111

Happy Fab Friday, my friends!!! I have spent SO much time in my car the past several days! My daughter lives almost an hour away. And trying to do weddings stuffs with someone who is an hour away is not always the easiest of things. So I drive ... and drive and drive and drive. Now I need a NAP!!!

Here's my card for this week's sketch challenge. I didn't even end up putting ANY stamped images on it ... not ONE!!! Truth be told, I had to pick my daughter up at the train station VERY early this morning ... and this card was something I did on the fly (code for "in a hurry"). I didn't feel like it needed an actual sentiment, anyway!

Stamps: NONE!
Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Tasty Treats DSP
Ink: NONE!
Accessories: Swirly Scribbles Thinlits Dies, Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies, White Jute Ribbon, Blushing Bride Sequin Trim

Pretty straight forward ...











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 shall now go and THINK about taking a nap whilst I am juggling cats and trying to clean my house, do laundry and work on wedding stuffs!

Paper Craft Crew - PCC #241

Happy Paper Craft Crew Day!!! I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how much I "miss" doing my "several-times-a-week" paper crafting!! I am ever-so-thankful for my blog hop teams, like the Paper Craft Crew, who are keeping me with at least my little TOE in it!!! Wedding is less than three weeks away ... AAAAAAACK!!! THEN I can clean my house ... clean my crafty space ... and get back on some sorta "normal" schedule ... whatever the heck THAT means!!

I LUUUURRRRVE this little bumble bee!!! I mean, seriously??? Could he "bee" any cuter???? I think not!!! And then, of course, I also had to add the hexagon textured background ... because ... HONEYCOMB!!!! Spring is really happening!!! This was the longest freakin' winter of ALL TIME!!! I didn't think it was EVER going to give up!!! SHEESH!

Stamps: Lift Me Up
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Neutrals DSP Stack, Silver Foil
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits (I think these are my most FAVE framelits right now!), Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits, Gold Sequin Trim, Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Great layout!!!










Here's a link to the Paper Craft Crew Challenge so you can play along:

Paper Craft Crew #241

Next step for the wedding??? Finishing up the cookies/boxes for wedding favors! I WILL get this DONE!!! And then I will take the longest nap of ALL TIME!!!

Mamas, Friends ... and Freaks!

Happy April, my friends!!! Welcome to another go-round with the Control Freaks!!! This month we are making projects that you can give to your mother or to a friend.  LeeAnn Greff ... did you just come from her blog???? She can mail me her projects ANY time!!

Remember SEVERAL years back when these double-fold cards were all the rage??? Don't know WHAT made me think of these as I sat down to create ... but I decided I wanted to make some ... because they are so much fun!!!

Stamps: Flourishing Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: Early Expresso
Accessories: Woodlands Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Botanical Buildings Thinlits Dies, Project Life Tags & Labels Thinlits Dies, Linen Thread

Here's the same sort of card ... just flipped horizontally.  I had forgotten how much I loved making this style of card "back in the day" ... it was great to revisit ...

Stamps: Flourishing Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Peekaboo Peach, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: Early Expresso
Accessories: Woodlands Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Botanical Buildings Thinlits Dies, Project Life Tags & Labels Thinlits Dies, Linen Thread, 3/8" Burlap Ribbon

Next up???  ... my brilliant friend, Cindy Elam!! She makes the most beaUTIFUL things, doesn't she???

Paper Craft Crew - PCC #239

Well, well, well!!! Would ya LOOKIE here!!! I am blogging!!! I am ACTUALLY BLOGGING!! I feel like I am SO out of the loop!!! I am still busily working on my daughter's wedding stuff ... something that is taking a LOT of time! I'm enjoying it, but it's sucking up ALL my extra time (if there even IS such a thing in my universe!!)!!! Thank goodness for the Paper Craft Crew and their challenges!!! They have given me a REASON to create!!

Spent a good portion of Tuesday morning at the florists. We were looking at #alltheflowers. Don't you just LOVE the smell of fresh flowers???? I know I do! Which is what inspired me to make my card for this week's challenge ... which was to use some sort of metal embellishment ... but I was thinking FLOWERS!!!

Stamps: Beautiful You
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Watercolor
Ink: Basic Black, Watercolor Pencils (Rich Razzleberry)
Accessories: May Flowers Framelits, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits, Mini Paper Clips, Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim, Falling Petals Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, Aqua Painter

Easy enough, right???









Here's a link to the Paper Craft Crew Challenge so you can play along:

Paper Craft Crew #239

So here I go again ... I will be back in the trenches (after I get off work, of course) working on finishing up wedding announcements!!! I NEED to have them out by this weekend!!! YIKES!!!

Monday Montage #91

Beautiful weekend ... beautiful weather ... and another beautiful Monday Montage Blog Hop!!! What could be better??? Except for the fact that I realized TODAY that I have to have all of my daughter's wedding invites done and ready for the mail in TEN DAYS!!! AAAAAAACCCCKKKK! I'm ok ...

Need to confess a truth ... again ... I STILL haven't put my craft room back together since the Great Christmas Flood of 2016. Every time I walk in and look at it I think to myself, "Nah!!! I'll do it LATER!" It is something that REALLY needs to happen. But I have decided that because my daughter's wedding is coming SO quickly, I need to focus all me energies on THAT. THEN maybe I can worry about cleaning and reorganizing!!! In the meantime, I made this little beauty ...

Stamps: Oh So Succulent
Paper: Whisper White, Neutrals DSP, Melon Mambo, Vellum
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: May Flowers Framelits Dies, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, White Organza Ribbon, Pearl Basics

And I haven't been to Disneyland since NOVEMBER!!! I am having SERIOUS withdrawal pains!!! I know ATW (after the wedding), my sister-in-law and I are planning to go ... and Bree (my bestie who is up NEXT on this blog hop) and I have signed up for the Disneyland "Double Dare" at the first of September (a 10K on one day, followed by a half marathon the next!)!!! We are already talking COSTUMES!!! One of the races has a "Toy Story" theme ... and the other one has a "Monsters Inc." theme ... I can't WAIT!!

In the mean time, click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Bree Renwick ... these girls got it going ON!!

Freaks in the Spring!

Greetings from the beautiful city of Walla Walla, Washington!!! If you've been following our lovely little blog tour, you would just have come from my talented and good friend Melissa Stout's blog.  We are actually playing in TWO blog hops where we are back to back!! What are the chances of that happening??? I just arrived in Walla Walla VERY early Saturday morning to visit with my good friend and fellow Stampin' Up devotee, Bree Renwick.  We are having SO much fun! The Control Freaks are having fun as well, as we celebrate creations that have been inspired by all things SPRINGY!!

One of the "most funnest" things about visiting a fellow stamping buddy is that I didn't have to bring ANY stamping supplies with me!!! AND I got to use some of her lovely things (some of which I don't actually own!)!!! That's what I call a good time!!!

Stamps: Blooms and Wishes, Writing Notes
Paper: Sahara Sand, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla
Ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Linen Thread, Lots of Labels Framelits

Where on EARTH has this stamp set been hiding???? I LOVELOVELOVE this Playful Backgrounds set!!! It has such CUTE images!!! Man oh, man, not sure HOW this one has escaped my attention for so long!!

Stamps: Fresh Fruit, Playful Backgrounds
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum, Watermelon Wonder
Accessories: Regals Enamel Shapes, Linen Thread

Next up??? The delightful Deb Henderson! She has SO many great ideas!!

Monday Montage #87

Where did the weekend go??? AGAIN???? WHOOSH!!! Seriously??? I need another TWO DAYS in my weekend!!! If only it worked that way!!! But at least I got to do some STAMPING to end the weekend off on a happy note (not that my weekend was UNhappy ... just BUSY ... as usual!) Welcome to Monday Montage #87!!

True Confessions ... I spent over an HOUR looking for my "current" stack of "Valentine" paper ... only to realize that I didn't actually ORDER any!!! What the WHAT???? My craft room (STILL a disaster) ... can't find ANYthing ... well, that's not exactly true. I can now find SOME things ... just need to get SERIOUS about putting it all back together ... sigh ...

Stamps: Sealed with Love
Whisper White, Neutrals DSP Stack, Red Glimmer Paper, Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Sweetheart Punch, Tags & Labels Framelits, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies (small heart), 3/8" Burlap Ribbon, 3/8" Metallic Ribbon Combo Pack (Silver), Mini Stapler

Our temperature today got up into the MID-50's!!! How on earth did THAT happen???? We were at -3 just a couple of weeks ago. I have a feeling that we are NOT finished with SUB-FREEZING temps yet!!! But my run on Saturday was GORGEOUS!!! We finally had a storm that blew out the icky air and the temperature inversion. Thank HEAVENS for THAT!!!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... I {{{heart}}} them AND their creations!

Monday Montage #86

I've done more blog posts in the last three days than I've done in the last whole MONTH!! The ceiling in my basement has FINALLY been painted. NOW comes the HERCULEAN task of trying to put everything back together!! It's probably going to take me EONS to get it done!!! Thank heavens for the Monday Montage crew and our blog hop ... at least I'm getting a LITTLE bit of stamping done!!

Since I STILL am having trouble finding things, I went back to an old fave of mine ... BUTTERFLIES!!! I pulled out some punches and some dies and VOILA!!! I like me some butterflies, that's for sure!!

Stamps: Sealed with Love
Paper: Whisper White Crumb Cake, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Vellum
Ink: Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Tags & Labels Framelits, Butterfly Thinlits, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Mini Stapler, Burlap Ribbon, Lace Doily

Snow, snow and MORE snow!!! The snow around here the past several days is messing up my running schedule!!! On the GOOD side, I spent the better part of Saturday making breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the ENTIRE next week!!! Put them in individual serving containers so we are all gonna eat HEALTHY this week!!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... beaUTIFUL women, beaUTIFUL projects!!!