Wonderful Wednesday

I had a busy Wednesday.  Dropped of my grandsons after breakfast, then stopped and picked up a birthday gift for my son-in-law, a couple of doctor appointments and the hair dresser.  All of this before 4 p.m.  I finally had an opportunity to check out CPS and their challenge for this week.  I liked the sketch challenge this week so here is my interpretation of CPS 224:

The designer paper is Stampin Up and the stamps are Gina K designs "Follow Your Dreams"

Stampin with friends

Last night was so much fun.  Went to a Stampin Up event and made four cards and oh they were oh so cute.  Good friends and fabulous designs (not mine of course)  and oh boy a bunch of new exciting stamps.  I love it.  Here are the cards we made:

Sad Tuesday

Well I really haven't accomplished anything today except to take Brandon and Blake over to their cousin Cohen's to play.  The two older boys just love to hold and care for the baby.  Today his mom decided it was pool time.  We blew up the pool and put water in but little Cohen didn't like it all that much.  After several tries, everyone had had enough.  Besides we had been there for almost 4 hours so we left so Cohen could have a nap which he reluctantly went for as soon as we left. 

I received news last night that my oldest sister, Beverly is back in the hospital.  She has been fighting cancer for a number of years but most recently found out that the cancer had been misdiagnosed.  It seems she has this rare cancer called Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.  It looks like leukemia in the beginning stages but as it progresses the doctor's are able to name it with the appropriate test.  Along with that she is having kidney issues.  It is the kidney's that have landed her in the hospital this time.  It is really all interconnected as the Waldenstrom's deals with the blood too. 

My heart hurts knowing that my sister is struggling with this disease.  She has a wonderful loving husband, 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren so her family is large and very loving.  Still it is difficult to see the struggle.  I went to visit her a couple of weeks ago and she was so very thin and frail looking.  I am so sad.  But God does not give anything we can't handle so I guess our family will just have to get through this.  My sister is a fighter too.  She will fight this to the bitter end so Waldenstrom's watch out. 

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.  Sometimes a person just needs to let go.  Now I can get my creative juices going because after all I am going to a Stampin Up stamp camp tonight.  These events always make me happy even if I spend too much money.  I don't really plan on spending any money but you never know when I just might need something.  Later tonight folks I will share some of my work.  Until later.

CCMC156

Well here it is still Monday.  Brandon and Blake are in bed and I can have my computer again.  I found another challenge that uses Stampin Up products and that does excite me since I have so many stamp sets.  So here is my interpretation of the color challenge on Create with Connie and Mary. The challenge was to use Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise, and Old Olive.  Here is the beautiful card that I created using the stamp set "Live Like You Mean It"  Boy no truer words were ever written or stamped for that matter.

It's Monday

Hi everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.  I sure did.  It was a busy one but that tends to keep me out of trouble.  On Saturday, there was a surprise 30th wedding anniversary for our neighbors, Donna and Mark.  They have two sons and they did a good job because Donna and Mark were definitely surprised.  

On Sunday I played golf in the a.m. and then we went to a graduation party for my great neice Molly.  It was good to see everyone and catch up on what is happening in their lives.  Don't see them much so was sure glad I had a chance to see them and congratulate the high school graduate who is heading to Aveda School in the fall for cosmotology as well as massage therapy.  I have found a new best friend.  (LOL) On top of all that my youngest grandson was at the grad party too.  I just love that little guy he sure does make me smile.

Well it is Monday and I have a busy week.  I had a dentist appointment and then went and picked up my other two grandsons for a little visit. They two make me smile but they are older now and I am not allowed to say how cute they are because I embarrass them.

They love video games as all kids there age but they also each have a facebook page so my computer has been very busy today.  While they were busy on the computer I did have the change to create a card for StampTV's Mix it up Monday Challenge.  It was a color challenge using pink, grey and ivory. Those are not challenging for me.  I love the color combo.  I used Gina K's StampTV stamp set called "Vintage Chic" for my sentiment and focal image.  I also used a few nestibilities die cuts and always a little bling.  I do love the bling.  It is funny because when it comes to jewelry I am conservative but my cards wear bling. Anyway here is the card that I created for MIUM June 27, 2011

STVMONTG2

I think it turned out rather nice.  Of course I will be adding more cards as I find more challenges but it will have to wait until tomorrow. 

One for all, all for one

Another challenge.  I love to make cards and these challenges just encourage me to go crazy.  This card is for Paper Players.  Paper Players is a new site I found and I am very excited about it.  The site, although any stamps are excepted, promotes Stampin Up products.  Since I have hundreds of Stampin Up stamps I think I am going to love this site. Here is my rendition of PP53 Sketch Challenge

Color Throwdown

Used sage shadow for base of card and layered a piece of blushing bride cardstock on top of that.  The next layer I used SU Sanded stamp and stamped on white cardstock with blushing bride.  Using SU stamp set Live Like You Mean It I stamped the flower on white card stock using cherry cobbler and sage shadow ink.  I stamped the sentiment (SU Simple Friendship) in black on blushing bride card stock. 

Sunny Day and a StampTV challenge

I woke up this morning and the sun was shining.  Hooray!  It has been so dismal here lately.  After breakfast I immediately went to the computer and StampTV for the FFAF challenge.  The challenge was to CASE a DT member.  You didn't get to pick the DT member but you did get to select something she had created and use it for inspiration and then change at least two things.  I had also challenged myself to use a card stock color that I had but wasn't particularly fond of.  Well, mission accomplished.  You can find the inspiration card I chose at this link:  http://stamptv.ning.com/photo/hello-circles .  Here is the card that I created:

You will see that I changed the color and I used a different stamp and then I also added ribbon and lots and lots of bling.  You gotta have bling and I love adding it to my creations.  I particularly like the bling that I placed on the ribbon.  It really was just the added touch that I needed.  I look at the card and I have to say there really is no reason I don't like the orchid color cardstock.

On another note my newest and youngest grandson has been entered into a contest for parent magazine.  I am putting the link here just in case you happen to be inclined to take a peek and vote for him.  He is a real cutie.  Well I am a whole lot biased.  http://photos.parents.com/category/vote/photo/928060 or you can just click the vote button below.

Congratulations!

Thank you for entering the Parents Magazine Cover Contest! Your photo is currently in the running to become one of our weekly Reader's Choice finalists! Each weekly finalist will receive $250, plus have a chance to be one of the 10 finalists chosen to travel to New York City for the Parents Cover Contest photo shoot. Official Rules

Come back daily! Voting ends 06/26/2011. Get your friends and family to vote too! Just forward this email to them or share the link.

Another cold and rainy day in Minnesota.  It was the perfect day to stay inside and make cards.  I found myself dawdling and it took me until the late evening before I finally made one.  I have a 30th wedding anniversary card and a graduation card that I need to make and yet I found myself wanting to try a technique that was demonstrated by Gina Kruspky on Stamp TV.  Versamark resist but not embossing.  I tried the technique with a thin cardstock and found that the technique did not work.  I then used Gina K pure luxury 120# weight cardstock and the technique turned out so much better.  Really liked the card that I finished and think it might even work as graduation card.   

I stamped the dandelions on the pure luxury cardstock with versamark.  I then used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Stormy Sky and used the direct ink to paper tecnique.  I adhered the now blue cardstock to a yellow card.  I then stamped the dandelion (from GKD Vintage Vogue stamp set) and the sentiment from the same stamp set in the Stormy Sky ink on another piece of pure luxury paper tied a yellow ribbon around it and adhered this over the now blue cardstock.  I then added 3 blue crystals to the bottom right corner of the card to finish it off.  It was a fun technique but you really must use a good quality cardstock in order for the technique to come out correctly.  I would also say to lightly add the ink so that not to much ink is used. 

Paper Pieced Butterfly

Well, Cohen came for a visit today.  He is such a happy baby and so much fun to be with.  Nothing but smiles.  After he left I worked on a pieced paper image for a card.  I liked how it turned out using the designer paper for piecing because I couldn't use it as part of a card otherwise.  I enjoying all the different techniques I am learning and trying to apply them to card making.  I am unsure whether I will ever be good enough to become an instructor but right now my goal is to try as many techniques as I can find and try them all. Here is my paper pieced butterfly.

So Many Stamps, So Little Time

I cannot believe how wonderful stamping is.  It is relaxing yet challenging.  I find that I  can spend hours, much to my husbands chagrin I assume, stamping and creating oh what fun.  Moving on to StampTV Mix it up Monday Challenge but for now I created this lovely card for CR84FN.  I guess I do create for fun.  Bye until later today

Challenges CPS 223

Well it was another wonderful weekend.  Hope everyone else had a great Father's Day.  Went to our daughter, Katy's and her husband Andy's, place for a barbeque. All my children were there, although my two oldest grandsons were not.  I miss them but they spent the day with their dad and that was very important for them.

I have found so many stamping challenges on the web.  I am amazed how many there are out there.  I surely wish I would have found them a long time ago.  I seem to be making cards constantly which is a good thing for me.  4 years ago I lost my left leg in an accident and although I have a prosthesis, I find that I do a lot more sitting then anything else.  There are so many days when I am bored that finding these challenges has been a Godsend.  I have been stamping for a long time but have just recently began to put my creations on website challenges.  I enjoy looking at what others have created and getting inspiration from all the wonderful ideas.

I have been very blessed in my life.  I have a wonderful husband, 3 wonderful children, a terrific son-in-law and 3 wonderful grandsons.  I also have fabulous friends.  I realize I have so much to be thankful for and that just because I don't have a leg and my life is different there is so much to live for.  I attribute my positive attitude to my family, friends and stamping.

Stamping has allowed me to meet so many new people that enjoy the same hobby that I do.  It too has become a blessing for me.  God works in mysterious ways. 

CR84FN

This is the card that I made for this challenge.

Awesome challenges are out there.  I love how it challenges my creativity.  This one was a color challenge and they were right up my alley.  I am having such a great summer making all these cards.

Found a new stamping challenge site.  OMG I am is awe as to the number of these sites.  I want to try all of them as they make me work at getting better at card making as well as challenging my creativity.  I am no longer satisfied with simple cards, although they can be very nice, I always want to add more.  This time I added layers, crystals, and ribbon.  I used Gina K Design Stamp set "Springtime Silhouettes" for the image and sentiment and of course I used the woodgrain technique that Gina K demoed on StampTV.  I really like how this card turned out. What do you think?

CPS 222

Just completed a card for CPS 222 challenge.  I really love the sketches they come up with and the opportunity the sketches provide for creativity.  If you haven't checked out this blog you really must.  I have been very busy with grandsons this week so haven't had much time for anything but them so I was extra excited to have completed the attached card. 

Paper Crafting

Well I skipped a few days.  I have been busy with my grandson, Cohen.  Today was the last day of babysitting cause mom is done working for the summer.  Now I definitely will have tons of time to work on improving my papercrafting.  I love making cards and want to make each one better than the last.  I have been trying to make at least one each night.  I don't know about you but I do find that there are times when nothing will come to me.  Anyway, school is out for the summer and I hope to have my other grandsons over for a visit as well.  Until that time I will keep trying to work on cards. Check out some of the new ones I have added.

CPS blogspot Sketch #221

I have found a wonderful blogspot, CPS.  I like it because they give you a sketch and tell you to interpret.  Sometimes I have a tendency, without meaning to, to copy a card when I see it rather than create a card if you know what I mean.  Anyway I took the sketch and using a Gina K stamp set "Follow Your Dreams" and some designer paper created the attached cards.  Both cards were done using the same backgrounds one with a sentiment, and the other without. I used wood paper for the stumps that act as my ribbon

 Now I must get to cleaning upmy workspace.  Oh ya played golf earlier.  9 holes was plenty but fun. 

Saturday Morning

I love sleeping in on saturday mornings.  It didn't really work out this morning but I caught an extra 45 minutes so that was good.  Yesterday was such a fun day.  Cohen was extremely happy and so very good.  We took him to Blake's school talent show and he slept until the school erupted with applaus for a little girl that sang.  We stayed so Blake could see Cohen, he really likes his new cousin.  I then received my a package from Gina K Designs.  So last evening I got to work organizing those stamps.  I dropped a small stamp on the floor and it rolled under my table so I had to start moving things which started me on a cleaning thing which will take me several days but it is really time.  I will still take a few moments out for stamping.  To top off my wonderful day, my hubby brought me flowers.  My craft room smells so wonderful. 

Well it is saturday and I have two graduation parties today.  We had 3 graduations in all this year.  Everytime I think we are a little old for graduation parties we end up being invited to at least two or 3.  This year our great-neice, Ashley, graduated from Thief River Falls, and our neice, Hayley, from Blaine.  Then there is Brooke, from Champlin, she belongs to long time friends.  Well time to go from now.  Happy Stamping

Today

Another rainy day in Minnesota.  Perfect weather for stamping.  Watching grandson number 3 and going to number 2's talent show this afternoon, but during naps and such I will be stamping.

Stamping Craze

Been following StampTV new "Vintage Chic" stamptv set.  If you haven't taken a peek at this site and you love paper, you gotta go there.  The technique tutorials are awesome and I have been going crazy.  Below I made three cards using the same technique.  I love them all. This particular technique is "wax paper focal image".