Monday Montage #163

What day is it??? Are you SURE??? To be fair, we have a family-owned business, and I still go to work (it just was off kilter for a while when the virus first hit and one of our family members tested positive). We have almost NO ONE coming in or out, so it's easy for me to go in on my work days and get things done, even if it's not for a full day sometimes. So that part of my schedule is still kinda intact. The rest of my "weekly benchmarks" are SOOOO lost!! I wake up some mornings and honestly don't even know what day it is (a fact I am SURE you can all relate to). It's CRAZY!!! But I am grateful for the wonderful and beautiful things I have in my life. And oh man ... how I miss HUGGING people!! EVERYONE is getting hugs when it will be safe to do so again. I have been doing a lot of spring cleaning and baking ... and some stamping, too!! I know it is Sunday night because TOMORROW it is Monday Montage Day!! At least some things are still dependable!

I have always loved ANY stamps with a butterfly image. I have probably made MORE cards over the years with butterflies on them than anything else (for those who want to see the cards I made for my son while he served a two-year mission for our church ... of which I sent one every week with a butterfly image on it ... because his nickname is "Butterfly Boy" ... long story), click on the "Follow the Butterflies" link in my sidebar. Here is another one to add to my collection ...

Stamps: Very Versailles, Butterfly Gala
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Dies, Butterfly Duet Punch, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Scalloped Lace Trim, 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim, Linen Thread, Champagne Rhinestones


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!!

I ate WAAAAY too much junk this weekend. Like, a-half-a-chocolate-cake-and-a-bunch-of-chocolate-chip-cookies too much! I'm going to be MUCH better this week because I kind of feel sick with all the fat and sugar in my system. But it was DELICIOUS!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... you will LOVE their creations (something else that is also dependable!)!

Fab Friday #188

Here we are ... again ... and we are STILL in quarantine!! Who would've believed on January 1st that this is where we would be in April?? Holy COW!!! I have found myself counting my blessing and re-evaluating a LOT of things. I am truly blessed and grateful for my family and friends the most!! Oh man ... HUGS ... how I miss HUGS!!!! But I digress ... welcome to Fab Friday, my friends!!

I made this card last night ... with every intention of posting it first thing this morning. You know how THAT goes!! I just realized that I had NOT posted it yet ... YIKES!!! I honestly don't know what day it is most of the time (which I am sure that most of you can relate to!)! The colors for this challenge aren't something that I would have put together myself, but that is why we call this a CHALLENGE, right??? I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

Stamps: Very Versaille
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Grapefruit Grove
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Grapefruit Grove
Accessories: Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder, Butterfly Duet Punch, Stitched Shapes Dies, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Whisper White 5/8" Flax Ribbon, Sahara Sand 5/8" Woven Threads Trim

Soft and spring-y ...











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 made my first attempt at sourdough bread yesterday!! It turned out better than I thought it would, but not as good as it COULD be!! I guess I will need to keep trying to perfect this!! Being from the Bay Area, I am a great appreciator of really yummy sourdough ... going to keep trying!! Have a GREAT weekend!!

Monday Montage #162

On TOP of being quarantined, self distancing, recovering from the earthquake last month and everything else ... I had a CRACKED MOLAR and had to go into the dentist this morning!! (Something, I hate to admit, causes me more anxiety than just about anything else on the planet!! YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! In spite of the fact that I was the ONLY patient in the office, I still was a bit nervous about being there in the first place. Luckily, I don't need a root canal ... unluckily, I now have a temporary crown and will have to go back in a couple of weeks to have the permanent one put on. YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! Oh well ... Happy Monday Montage!

I think my favorite "In Color" that came out last spring is Purple Posy. And since they have had some issues with the ink pads, I have limited my use of it. I decided to throw caution to the wind and just use some today anyway!! Actually, I used Highland Heather and a little bit of Rich Razzleberry to make this lovely lilacs. Lilacs make me think of my childhood. We had a HUGE batch of them every year along our back fence. They smelled like HEAVEN!! I think they rank up in my top three favorite flowers for SURE!

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship, Band Together
Paper: Purple Posy, Whisper White
Ink: Highland Heather, Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green
Accessories: Detailed Bands Dies, Frosted Epoxy Droplets


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!!

Now that I can feel my face again (and the tooth inside, which quite honestly, feels like it's covered with lumps of cement!), I may need to see how my tooth likes food. I like food. The rest of my body likes food. Hopefully my tooth is feeling cooperative!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... they both make me happy!

Fab Friday #187

Three more days of QUARANTINE ... YAY!! Not that it means THAT much. As social distancing continues, I don't see that many of us are getting out to go much of ANYwhere! My father in law is doing better every day ... this virus is NOT an easy road, you guys!! So very grateful that he is recovering!! And I am SO very grateful for my side occupation as a CRAFT HOARDER!! I have enough stuff in my craft room to make projects for MONTHS (and that is NO KIDDING!)!! Today I played for Fab Friday!!

The sketch this time around made me think of the Pocket Dies ... which I have not played with in quite some time!! The shape of the bottom edge of the pocket is the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the sketch, so it came together very easily! I LOVE the beautiful spring flowers. I have to say that I think daisies are my favorite flower (just like Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail")! They are just so happy and cheerful ... don't you agree???

Stamps: Daisy Lane
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Brights DSP
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Pocket Dies, Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder, Sahara Sand 5/8" Woven Threads Trim, Whisper White Baker's Twine

See what I mean??











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

So far this week I have baked some bread, made my own granola from scratch and completed a "teddy bear picnic" in my front window (cutout teddy bears dressed up in all sorts of ways)! I am going to tackle my spare room and storage room this weekend ... at least my "spring cleaning" is getting a chance this year!

Monday Montage #161

Happy Quarantine, Dear World!! Things are getting real around here. We are "officially" staying home ... a dear family friend lost his fight against coronavirus on Sunday ... and my father in law actually got tested Sunday afternoon (he has been sick for over a week ... has a nasty fever and such going on). While I do believe that we will all be ok, we are hunkering down because we have all been exposed to my father in law and won't know his test results for 5-7 days (the labs are SWAMPED!)! He will turn 88 next month, and he has quite honestly run circles around ALL of us (I have known him for 35 years and have never seen a more hard-working, dedicated soul). We own a family business, and he works just as hard, if not harder, than everyone else. He has just enough stubborn in him that he won't let this take him down (although we are hopeful that "this" is just your regular old "run of the mill" kinda flu bug.

I got to spend some time this weekend Zoom-Stamping with a fun group of friends, FaceTime Stamping and visiting with a few other friends and spending some time cleaning my stamp room (which was really needing it!)! I actually had this card done a whole dang day EARLY (for a change!)! I plan on spending my quarantined days doing some much-needed spring cleaning!

Stamps: Bonanza Buddies
Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Subtles DSP
Ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Basket Weave Embossing Folder, Square Punch, Detailed Trio Punch, Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim, 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim, Linen Thread



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!!

What are YOU guys doing to pass the time and feel productive??? I have committed myself to actually getting GOOD at doing push ups ... I have NEVER liked them, so I have never spent very much time trying to get proficient at them. This is my goal ... I AM going to conquer this!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... you won't want to miss EITHER of their creations!

Fab Friday #186

Social Distancing ... Self-Quarantining ... this is what "normal" looks like right now for ALL of us!! First ... HUGE shout out and MOUNTAINS of thanks to all of those of you are working in "essential" jobs (or have loved ones who do)! You guys are the reason we WILL get through all of this!! You are HEROES!!!

Weirdly enough, I have not had all that much time to be crafty! I have been running back and forth to my mom's condo to take care of her and get her what she needs (she doesn't drive and has very frail health, so we are keeping her TOTALLY inside!)! I have also been going on runs/walks with my doggie ... and I have been working out at home (which, quite honestly, has been kickin' my booty!)! Thank goodness that Fab Friday made me get my act together (and luckily my craft room isn't a TOTAL disaster!!)! I used the four colors in this color challenge to create an ombre effect in the background using the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks. Easy. Peasy. FUN!

Stamps: Lovely Lily Pad, Peaceful Moments
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Pumpkin Pie, Terracotta Tile
Accessories: Basic Pattern Decorative Masks, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Lily Pad Dies, Terracotta Tile 1/2" Linen Scalloped Ribbon

Bright and Cheerful!









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

What are YOU doing during these crazy times??? Stamping via FaceTime or Skype is a good way to be productive and pass some time!! I'm also going to try to bake some things for the next few days ... wish me luck ... think I'm going to try some sourdough bread!! Stay safe, my friends!

Monday Montage #160

Not gonna lie ... I am WIPED OUT!!! I have been doing so much running around the last few days to make sure that our home, my mom's place and my kids all have the items they think they will need for at least the next two weeks. This COVID-19 is affecting every single one of us, isn't it?? I feel quite calm and certain that we will all come out okay when all is said and done ... but it has been both a mental and physical struggle this past week (I am sure every single one of you can relate). So it is good that we have lovely hobbies ... like paper crafting ... to keep us feeling a bit more normal, right??

This idea just popped into my head pretty quickly. That doesn't happen very often!! And considering how full my mind has been this past week, it's DOUBLY amazing!!

Stamps: Garden Goodness, Band Together
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Golden Honey Specialty DSP, Vellum
Ink: Garden Green, Mango Melody, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Black
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, 5/8" Whisper White Flax Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine





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 - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

Breathe in, breathe out. Take every day one step at a time. We GOT this, my friends!! Be safe and stay home ... wash hands ... enjoy your families!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... ENJOY!!!

Monday Montage #159

What's better than creating a card for the Monday Montage Blog Hop??? Creating a card for the monday Montage Blog Hop in the very same room with one of my BFFs and fellow Monday Montager, Bree Renwick!! I drove up to Walla Walla to hang with her boys (and some of their friends) at a TobyMac concert. We had SO MUCH FUN!! Long walks, singing, dancing, stamping, eating and overall having a very nice, long and relaxing weekend!! Came back home to Salt Lake City to find the ground covered with snow ... uggggghhh! My body and brain are SO confused!!

Something else FUN about stamping with a friend??? SHARING stamps/dies that you don't have and SHE does ... and vice versa! I have been eyeing the "Happy Birthday to You" stamps/dies. Since Bree had them in her stash I was able to play with them. Oh how I LOVE them!! This card was inspired by the oh-so-talented Stesha Bloodheart. I love the combination of a really strong color (in this case Lovely Lipstick) with a nice shade of gray (as in Gray Granite). It just looks so rich and lovely. I used some Versamark ink to stamp the image, then I added some Whisper White embossing powder and heat embossed the image. A blender pen and a little bit of Gray Granite reinker help define the lines and make the cake look like it has some dimension. I did the same thing with the flowers and some Lovely Lipstick ink. I think I am going to be submitting an order for this whole suite for myself!!

Stamps: Happy Birthday to You
Paper: Lovely Lipstick, Granite Gray, Watercolor, Vellum
Ink: Lovely Lipstick, Granite Gray, Versamark
Accessories: Stitched Rectangle Dies, Birthday Dies, Leaf Punch, Sprig Punch, Metallic Pearls, Stone Embossing Folder, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Whisper White 1/4" Crinkled Seam Binding 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 - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
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 - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

Why is it that just DRIVING makes you SOOOOO tired??!!?? Honestly, I have never been able to figure that out!! Drove 8 1/2 hours today and am WIPED OUT! I think I need another weekend ...

Speaking of my BFF Bree, click "Next" to see what Bree Renwick made while we were playing stamps together ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... you'll be glad you checked out ALL the posts for this hop ... everyone hit a HOMERUN!

Freakin' Out of the Box!

Guess what???? The stinking FLU (or one of its many-many cousins) has come to visit our house this week. YUCK!!! My husband was sick all last weekend and is just starting to feel better ... and now it is MY turn!!! DOUBLE YUCK!! At least I have actually HAD a flu shot, so I am hoping that it comes and goes in a very timely manner. I HATE wasting time being sick!! UGH ... at least I got to play a little with stamps for this month's Control Freaks Blog Tour. This month we are "Out of the Box" ... trying to do something a little "different". I have the privilege of being in the middle of a "Melissa" sandwich. Did you just come for the blog of Melissa Stout ... MAGNIFICENT, right???

My first "out of the box" creation is actually made from ... a BOX!!! I used one of the box flaps from a recent Stampin' Up order! I pulled bits and pieces of the top layers off of it to give it a really "distressed" look. Pretty cool, eh??? I need to find me some more boxes ... I LOVE the look of this!

Stamps: Timeless Tropical
Paper: Whisper White, Mango Melody, Night of Navy, Garden Green
Ink: Lovely Lipstick, Mango Melody and Daffodil Delight Blends, Wink of Stella
Accessories: In the Tropics Dies, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Linen Thread, Metallic Pearls, Cardboard Box

This creation was actually pretty quick and easy. I made the little flowers using the "raindrop" edge die from the Lily Pads Dies. I cut the center pieces out to make some petals. A little 1/2" circle punch and VOILA!!! I think I have said it before, but the Stone Embossing folder is my new VERY FAVE!! I think it is just SOOOOO beautiful and versatile, don't you???

Stamps: So Sentimental
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Lovely Lipstick, Real Red
Ink: Lovely Lipstick
Accessories: Stitched Rectangle Dies, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Lily Pad Dies, 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim, Stone Embossing Folder, Stapler, 1/2" Circle Punch

I am so happy for Disney+ and podcasts! I have been watching/listening/sleeping all day today whilst trying to get over this nasty sickness! My latest favorite show??? The Incredible Dr. Pol!! I LOVE animals ... and he and the other people on the show are such a great combo with some fun chemistry.

Next up??? Marvelous ... Melissa Davies!!

Monday Montage #158

I am not even sure where this past week went ... I do believe that there is something to the time-goes-faster-as-you-get-older thing ... not that I AM older or anything ... but each year seems to go by more quickly than the last. It's already mid-February ... how on EARTH did THAT happen??? sigh ... Monday Montage is upon us again and I had SO much fun making this card to share!

Check You Out ... I bought this stamp set at least two or three months ago, but I kind of forgot about it with all the holidays and such. It was fun inking it up. I make my own patterned paper for the backdrop using the "book" stamps in this set. It's soooo stinkin' cute! I did a bunch of fussy cutting since there are no dies with this set. I actually LIKE to fussy cut ... it relaxes me!

Stamps: Check You Out
Paper: Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Dies, 1/2" Granny Apple Green Textured Weave Ribbon, Heart Epoxy Droplets, Whisper White Baker's Twine





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 - SITTING OUT 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!!

I started going to an Orangetheory gym at the end of August. I have been skeptical about doing any sort of group fitness classes for YEARS. I taught them myself for over 10 years ... step, hi/lo aerobics, weight training, spinning ... I did a lot. But I got burned out after a while, and, to be honest, it was hard for me to take classes from someone else when I wasn't the instructor! Does that even make any SENSE??? My niece had been going to Orangetheory for a while and looked GREAT, so she talked me into trying it. I freakin' LOVE it!!! And it has helped SOOOO much with my running. We did a 7-mile training run last Saturday ... I felt GREAT the whole dang time! It's been a long while since I loved working out this much ... and for that I am thankful!! Grateful that this old bod of mine allows me to do it!!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill has come up with ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... you'll be glad you checked out ALL the posts for this hop ... everyone hit a HOMERUN!