to B 14...

...do you remember when you were 14?  I do, it was mini-skirts and Yardley make-up...white lipstick.  I especially remember my 13th birthday as I got a new pocketbook (a Southern term for sure) and inside there were 13 new dollar bills.  I thought I was rich!  My DS, Andy turns 14 on Tuesday.  He's longing for a long board...over 10x's  $13's! But then that is what birthday's are for. 

I thought I would bust out a birthday card for him and make it fit the 365 Card Blog Saturday Challenge, to have everything front and center. I used my favorite pick-up truck image from B-Line Designs.  It was inked with ColorBox Raven Black onto DoubleMates merigold paper. I embossed it in clear ep and colored in the chrome bits with a silver gel pen. It is popped on foam mounting squares.I added an Andy name stamp, #14 rub-on's from Making Memories and the fab, "OH, Happy Day" (Wordsworth).

daily routine

yep, I am still playing this Saturday!  As I look beyond my computer , it is beautiful out in my back yard!  But cool in here.  I have finished another card for this weeks challenges on 365 Card Blog.  Thursday, DT member Amy offered a sample of a watermelon slice with the sentiment, one in a melon. Our challenge was to use a watermelon or the color on our card.  I decided to go with the color...who doesn't love that rich pink?  I stamped Unity's retro frame  with Cloud 9 Design clear acrylic sentiment. My card base is MME's Signature line.  At the bottom are Artistic Outposts' fun jacks. I cut the bottom edge off to reveal the inside and highlight those toys. Finishing my card is the dark green mesh trim that rinds me of watermelon rind. 

Thanks for hanging with me today!

Hope is the thing...

I'm back with another card for this weeks 365 Card Blog Challenge to use two colors on your card and the SCS Inspiration Challenge using book covers as a jumping off point.  I wanted to make a card to encourage a co-worker whose Mom has been diagnosed with advanced cancer.  I used Stamp Francisco's bird on a twig frame, stamping it twice, once on SU's very vanilla and once directly onto SU's retired soft sky.  The Dickinson quote, 'Hope is the thing  with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all'.  I also stamped the wings several time so I could add dimension to the bird.  The frame is the stapled onto a piece of SU very vanilla.

blessed pair

It's Saturday morning, my favorite time with it's promise of endless possibilities. This Saturday, DH and DS are off doing guy things and I've got the house all to myself.  Delicious!  Just like this pear card I created for my dear parents' anniversary.  

The challenge on 365 Card Blog was to make an card with a pear, either an engagement or anniversary card.  My pears are from a Stamp in the Hand (left image) and Stampin Up Fresh Fruits.  I added the Blessed word flourish from Autumn Leaves as a branch stamped off the left edge.  I couldn't resist adding the word pair! taking it from a Wordsworth stamp. The card base is from Scenic Route Sentimental Diamonds/white script. I used various Tim Holtz distress inks to color my rubber.  A pretty May Arts ribbon completes the card.

Have a very happy Saturday...grab those possibilities!!!

in focus

Happy Friday, people!  Why is it with a Monday holiday, the week still seems to be endlessly long?   At least, it feels that way to me!  I am focused on getting a thank you card in the mail to my vision benefit provider who after much prodding from me, went the extra mile.  In this world of impersonal electronic messaging, I think a colorful, on point thank you is in order!  This card also fulfills two challenges today, the 365 Card Blog to make something with the word "EYE" on it and the Limited Supplies Challenge over on SCS...only 1 1/2 piece of white cs and only patterned paper, no coloring, limited embellishments!  

I hope your weekend is filled to the brim with all your favorite people and activities.  I know mine will be!

You're the Best

I got to take benefit of the recent organizing my stash of vintage buttons into a swivel spice rack. Today's Ways to Use challenge on SCS was buttons!!! I also wanted to make a card for the 365 Card Blog challenge which was to use purple and 5 circles on your card. Well, 5 buttons seemed to be just the circles I needed and with purple, it's hard to pass on this wonderful eggplant image (A Stamp in the Hand). I got to use 5 different hues of my favorite color. The way I see it, today's a winner all the way around! This is encouragement for a dear friend who is taking some time off to discover what she wants to do with the next half of her life! Not be defined by a job, I'd say!!!

It's gorgeous here in the PNW...whatever your weather, I hope you are blessed today.

Sweet

I've had a great day getting caught up on some challenges and time to add a sketch challenge to my Sunday afternoon. Have a look and let me know what you think. It is for the 365 Card Sunday SC. I used paper crimping on my cupcake. All images are from Oxford Impressions.

Yahweh

This is my 6x6 page for the His Holy Names 09 challenge, the name LORD.  I am totally blessed by studying the Bible and several reference books on the names of God.  Each one has allowed me to learn more about the character of God.   And after meditating on scripture, I get to bring the word to life.  

As the Flag goes by

Don't know about you, but I miss the parades of my childhood.  There was plenty of reason to celebrate hero's and she-roes this time of year.  Today I am recalling standing on the corner, proudly waving my little flag as the parade marches by.  I used an extra paint brush to create my pole, verdigris buttons and bits of red glittery ribbon and paper ribbon.  The woman saluting image was inked with Memento lady bug and Paris dusk.  I added stickles in lace to the stars!

Artistic Outpost's newest release celebrates our women 'she-roes'.  Be sure to have a look at last years' Hero's set while you are there...that's where you'll find the BEST flags image, IMHO!

As we celebrate both our new summer releases as well as our new website, we're offering 20% off both the unmounted and mounted versions ofCracker Jack and She-roes. Please enter the following coupon code at check-out: cj-sr-20off We are also offering 20% the purchase of both She-roes and Hero unmounted sets. This is a special item in our store locatedhere. (Please note you can not combine the coupon code with this set. However, you can purchase this bundle at 20% off and use the coupon code to purchase Cracker Jack.)

New Artistic Outpost plates released

Today's the day you'll find new Artistic Outpost plates...the first up She-roes.

I love this quote by Maya Angelou, which honors the role women have played in supporting out country. I created this card to celebrate perhaps a beloved daughter who is away from home. Her portrait hangs in the "front parlour" I used the cracked glass technique, crepe paper and stitching and the quote is lightly embossed with powder.

Check out the special deals available over at Artistic Outpost

As we celebrate both our new summer releases as well as our new website, we're offering 20% off both the unmounted and mounted versions of Cracker Jack and She-roes. Please enter the following coupon code at check-out: cj-sr-20off We are also offering 20% the purchase of both She-roes and Hero unmounted sets. This is a special item in our store located here. (Please note you can not combine the coupon code with this set. However, you can purchase this bundle at 20% off and use the coupon code to purchase Cracker Jack.)

You'll find many other wonderful designs on these blogs...hop on over

Lisa Somerville
Gerrie Johnnic
Kelly Burton
Michelle Murphy
Cathy Edgar
Debby Boltman
Debi Wind
Judy Hayes
Lynn Stevens
Rachel Hope Baird
Robin Willis
Sharon Briss
Susan Conrad
Toni Tessler

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.  I am especially remembering my dear grandmother, whom I called Mom, this morning.  What a saint, a tower of strength, the essence of patience,  she radiated love!   My cheerleader.  And oh what a cook!  There was one thing in particular I loved  and that was tunafish (no recipe here, just and this and that kind of thing).  Long after I was gone from home...finished with schooling and married, whenever she would come visit, I always asked if she would make tunafish for me...somehow I could never get the taste just right.  Well, it wasn't until she went home to be with the Lord, did I prefect the art of her tuna.  And now it's my speciality.  All my guys love it and I even double the amount.  I can just slather it on sourdough, hold the big fat sandwich in my hands, bite down and be right back in HER kitchen in the '60's.  Think I'm gonna make a fresh batch this afternoon...I miss you, Mom! 

eye candy

I never tire of Paris and that's why this pillow for the Inspiration Challenge was the perfect choice for my collage today. You'll find just about everything here...metal, shimmer, towers, flocked damask, staples, a moon, and one grape lifesaver.  I'll let that be the mystery...

Happy Weekend and blessings to all the mom's, mum's, mothers, mama's out there!

another road trip

~~~ down memory lane, to the very first time I saw the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was 1981 and I had come to Northern California on business.  It was July, I had to make a stop in Berkeley for warm clothes...purple cords and a sweater.  And I, forever, identified with Mark Twain, when he said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco". Needless to say, I froze sitting at the North Tower vista point hair in my face from the wind and fog.   I've loved that bridge ever since, reading books about the construction, walked over it, sailed under it, driven over it more times than I can count and of course, photographed it.  So today, I add another, create a card to honor it!  

The Friday challenge on SCS is limited supplies...today Judy issued a call for create a card that celebrates some occasion in May.  When I saw the Golden Gate opened in May of 1937...I just knew I had to ink up the Inkadinkadoo image with Tim Holtz's distress ink in Spiced Marmalade!  You can find other details over in my gallery.

Happy Friday, all!  Another full weekend with Babe Ruth games, Mother's and our special day!

now IS the time...

Good Day out there!  Hope this finds you singing YOUR heart songs!  I just love this image from Tim Holtz.   I had to bring it out for the SCS Ways to Use it challenge.  My dear friend finds herself unemployed after many, many years with one company.  I want to tell her, yes, it IS time to sing HER own heart songs. Time to reflect, to be patient,  to wait on the next door to open.  The door where the work does not define her, but rather SHE defines the work.  And I know no matter what...it will be work that nourishes her creativity, honors her knowledge, and leaves her feeling well satisfied at the end of the day or night!

If you would like to know more about the specifics of my work today, you'll find it here.

I'd love to hear what songs your heart is singing....

how can it be...you're turning half a century

I won't be mentioning names here today, just want to showcase this half century card.  Created for someone dear using SCS's Color Challenge and the Monday Mojo on Julee's  Blog.  I was able to use the fun K&Co's Cut and Paste collection for the vintage blocks.  More details in my SCS gallery.

We're soggy here in the Pacific Northwest...hope your day is shiny and bright!

I wish I may, I wish I might

It's Sunday and time for the Featured Stamper over on SCS. A day to be challenged by a new style. This week Beth picked Sparkplug17. And when I saw Sparkles' Eiffel Cupcake, I knew I wanted to case this elegant card. My cupcake is of the "Costco" variety, enough cake for 3! And the tower is scaled to fit, courtesy of Oxford Impressions! I added French Script for flair and a black paisley panel for texture.

I was fortunate to visit Paris for the first time as a 16 year old with stars in my eyes and romance in my heart. I got to dine in the tower, having my first escargot presented with clarified butter and garlic...I thought I was so very sophisticated! No one from my home town had ever eaten snails...of that I am certain. But nowadays, just give me the cupcake!

Hope your day is a lovely one...

Style is Eternal

Don't give up on me, friends and fellow artists!  Life has thrown me some curves recently...my dear MIL was hospitalized last week and missed the parties.  Family and company came and went without a proper celebration!  So as you can image, that is where I have been giving my time.  She's home, but we are looking at rounds of medical tests and such...so if I turn up missing, that's probably where I am...

I did manage to stay up to the wee hours this morn to play in the Inspiration Challenge over on SCS...I just couldn't resist when the inspiration was prom dresses!  It certainly got me to thinking back on my one prom dress I had in my high school years.  Back then, you went DOWNTOWN to shop and the store fronts were filled with beautiful dresses.  I selected a long shift, yellow with a white lace bodice and sleeveless.  I had white gloves up to my elbows... The next year, I turned the dress around and wore it with the "V" modestly in front and it created a whole new look.  Can't remember how much it cost back in 1970...but probably not much more than $29.99~~~

I will send my card to my mom for Mother's Day.  She is and always has been one stylish lady! It you would like more details, please hop over to my gallery, I have most of the details there! I hope you find much joy in this May Day weekend...