THE METHOD TO THE MADNESS......

You know, you just can't beat a good card sketch. You can start with the basic sketch, but it can take you in so many directions. The card I have for you today started with a sketch found here at Clean & Simple Stamping. Their sketches are wonderful and I check them out (and use them) quite often. Whether you CASE (Copy And Share Everything) the sketch exactly as it is or just use it as a stepping stone to tweak to your own style, it is an invaluable tool.

Next (or vice versa, whichever works at the time), comes the picking of the colors. I am the first to admit, I am a bit color challenged. It is not from lack of trying, but cool color combos do not come easy for me. If it were just me coming up with them, there would only be around 5 combos to choose from. And not all of them may work so well together. Boring!!!! So, the new Color Coach that Stampin' Up came up with is just what I need. The old coach was okay, but this one is so much better. It is set up like a paint swatch collection --- you have each color in a 2-3/4" x 4-1/4" rectangle, not the little spot of color like on the old circular one. Then, on the back of each color card are two combo suggestions. Of course, if those don't suit you, you can twist the cards around and come up with your very own. You can also unfasten the screw that holds it all together and lay them out, if you choose. How stinkin' cool is that??? They also have cards with tips on color, ones showing the four color collections and blank ones for you to fill in your favorites. Even the new In-Colors have cards of their very own. Below is a picture of the one I used. I wanted to use Pacific Point, so I pulled up the card and after checking out both combos and my sketch, I decided the "sweet set" would work just fine --- Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight and Rich Razzleberry. And sweet it is.

Here is the card that all of that created. The base is the Daffodil Delight, then you have the Pacific Point and Rich Razzleberry (ran through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder) layered on top. I punched out the bird from the Two-Step Bird Punch in Daffodil and it's wing in Razzleberry (I stamped on the wing in VersaMark to put a little design on it). It is raised up on dimensionals. The limbs are from the same punch and done with Pear Pizzazz. The finishing touches are the Daffodil ribbon tied around the layers and the little pearl added for the birds eye. The sentiment is from the retired Well-Scripted set and is stamped in Pacific Point. This card is for one of my Little Debbie friend's birthday. I hope she likes it --- it can be a little intimidating making cards for people who make cards (and this is such a talented group, so that doesn't help). Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARLENE!!!!!!

Sorry this is such a long post, hard to shut me up once I get started. But I'm done now so......

Except, I would like to remind everyone to never forget the losses and sacrifices of those involved in the 9/11 attacks 9 years ago. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the family and friends left behind. I also pray that God continues to guide and protect our country.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!!!!!

AGAIN WITH THE BACK TO SCHOOL..........

Ah, back to school time. All of the supplies have been purchased and labeled. We've met the teachers and toured the new school. Now the actual first day has to be lived. My kids seemed excited for the year to start, much to my surprise. I figured Lindsey would be a total wreck going to a new school and not knowing anyone in her classes, but I guess that was just me. Logan is very excited to be at school without his sister there --- he is even riding a different bus. Sometimes they can be so independent. Here is a picture of my independent kids waiting for their buses (that is the dad in the background). Ain't they the cutest???? (They take after their mom.)

Logan's school has an awards program to honor the kids for doing well on their (dreaded) SOL's. Each child gets a certificate. If they made a perfect score of 600 on any of the tests, they also get a medal. On the back is the school year of the test (which would have been last school year) and the test it was (Social Studies, Math, Science or Reading, I think). Of course, the old 5th graders (now 6th graders) are not there, so this only includes the previous 3rd and 4th (now 4th and 5th) graders --- clear as mud? They let the now 2nd and 3rd graders sit in on the ceremony, also. I think this is to hopefully give them incentive to try hard to get a ribbon. Anyway, to cut to the chase, this next picture is Logan and his medal for a perfect score in Social Studies. Anyone who knows my history loving boy is not surprised that he aced this one. The sad thing is that he missed getting one for Math by one question. He and Lindsey did great on all of their tests last year and we are so proud of them both. Ain't he the cutest????

Of course, we cannot leave out our other "child". Zoey is getting ready to turn a year old next week, but she is still all puppy. Ain't she the cutest????

I hope to post some cards this weekend. I have them done, I just need to sit down and get the pictures and words together.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, RITA!!!!!!!

Sometimes I wonder where my brain is!!!! If you have seen it, please let me know. I have had this post ready for a week now, but have not sent it. Anywhooo, here ya go.........

Every once in a while, a project not only turns out just like you planned --- it actually turns out better. For me, this usually only happens every once in a blue moon, but I love it when it does. I made this card for a friend, Rita, that I worked with. She has retired to pursue her art full-time. I have mentioned her before, but just in case, you can check out her blog here. Really, check it out, she does beautiful work. Her goal is to post one work a day.

I wanted to try a Joy Fold Card that I found a tutorial for here. I have not purchased any of the DSP from the new catalog, so I started digging into my stash and came up with this. This is from a retired paper set called Ski Slope, but I don't think it necessarily looks like it has to be used on something "wintery". The colors are very pretty together and I love the striped paper. The other, with the swirls, actually looks more "springy" to me. The stamp set is Happy Heart Day, which is also retired. I wished the picture had turned out better, but ..........

This shows how the card opens. Pretty neat, huh? It's something a little different that will not take you hours to accomplish --- I am all about easy and quick. The flowers on the left are used to hold everything shut.

I could not find my catalog that has this DSP in it, so I hope I have the colors right. I used Baja Breeze as my large base and Chocolate Chip as my smaller base. The flowers are Baja Breeze and Real Red with a center from the Designer Brad Flowers set. The striped paper also has a little Old Olive in it, too (I think). I am very happy with how this turned out and I plan on doing more along this style.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!

While I was on vacation at the beach (good times, good times), I had a birthday. Now, if we must get older, celebrating it at the beach is just the ticket. But, be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. So lookie what I had waiting for me when I arrived back. If there is anything that I like as much as making cards for people, it would be receiving cards. It just brightens your day, know what I mean? So, drumroll, please......

This first one is from my friend and SU! sideline, Cindy Blekas. This link here will give you the card details. She is a whiz with DSP. And the inside is just as pretty as the outside. Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but she topped the cupcake with Dazzling Diamonds. And she is an ace at making bows, too. Love it!!!!

The next one is from Cindy's sister, Debbie Naylor, who just happens to be my upline. This is a WOW!!! factor card. Check out this link here to see how she did this. Pretty cool, huh? I love how she placed the bow on the corner. I think I may be CASE-ing that touch very soon.

Now, onto the card from Sherri Gough, another friend who is also my sideline. Can you tell that she knows my love of bright colors and punches? She also added some Dazzling Diamonds to the flower center to give it a little bling. This card just makes me smile...

Another friend and sideline, Debbie Williams, sent me this gorgeous card. She doesn't have a blog, but she sure needs one. I just love the colors and the satin ribbon is too die for. Did you see the little pearls on the side? Such a nice touch.

This last one is from a non-SU! friend, Rita Johnson. She made me card using a picture she took herself in her front yard. Did I mention that she is an artist? Check out the work she has on her blog --- it is amazing!!!!

Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes, either by mail or by e-mail. They were all appreciated.

Now, onto my next year..............

BACK TO SCHOOL TIME.......

It is that time again ---- Back to School. So, we have done the shopping for supplies, the meeting of the teachers for Logan, touring the new Middle School for Lindsey, and getting the bus schedules straight. I just cannot believe that summer is over (maybe not calendar-wise, but it is for me). We will be starting soccer practice next week, also. Nothing like doing everything at one time. It should be a challenge this year to fit everything in. Logan is going into 4th grade, so his homework will be kicked up a notch.

Then, there is Lindsey. She is going into 6th grade at the Middle School. When we toured this week, of her 3rd through 6th period classes, she has only 1 friend from her old school in 1 of her classes. There are 5 feeder schools coming into this one. So, she is going from a total of 35 fifth graders last year to 250 students in 6th grade this year. Quite an adjustment. But I try not to worry too much. She is a great girl (no bias there), so she will not have trouble making new friends.

One of the items that Logan needed was a canvas bag to carry his books from classroom to classroom. I didn't have, in my stash of tote bags (one of the many fetishes I have, like stamps...), any that would work for a guy --- or so Logan said. So, I went to Michaels and picked up a ready-to-finish canvas bag. I wanted to get an iron-on transfer (I needed it the next day, of course), but they must not think guys would want any --- everything was very girlie, girlie. I didn't even see anything I thought Lindsey would have liked. So, in true crafter's fashion, I took matters into my own hands. I had been wanting to try stamping on fabric, but never seemed to get up the nerve. I had done it once at my upline, Debbie Naylor's, house, but that was way back when I first started. I was very indimidated by it. I don't know why, it is soooo easy. This is what I ended up doing for him.

The name is done with the one of the very first sets I purchased, the Tall Tales Alphabet. It is, of course, now retired. The dino's are from Prehistoric Pals, also retired.  I used craft ink in Brilliant Blue (retired), Pumpkin Pie, Real Red,Glorious Green (retired) and Chocolate Chip. The weave of the canvas was very high and I may not have let the ink soak in as long as I should have, so the image didn't come out solid, But I really like how it turned out. More importantly, Logan liked how it turned out.

Here is a close up.

Good luck to all of you parents that have kids going back to school and extra good luck to the teachers teaching them.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!!!!

TAKE ME BACK..... PLEASE....

Okay, I am home again and back into to everyday grind. Boy, was it hard going back to work!!!! But work is a necessary evil. Anyway, here are a few more shots of our trip. This first one is from the trip down. Zoey was just worn out......

This is from the trip coming home. Zoey and Logan are worn out.....

This is Lindsey and Logan on the pier in Myrtle Beach (not sure which one).....

This is my SIL and BIL that went with us on the same unknown pier.......

Me and my DH on ditto.....

This is the kids in the Lazy River. What a way to float................

Then we have Logan in the ocean.........

Prepare for this next one --- it is Lindsey and me boogie boarding. I swear, that is me doing my own stunts. It is actually a lot of fun, but it does tire you out pretty quick.

That was my week in a nutshell. It really went by very, very quick. Now we are in the back-to-school mode --- now that really puts a damper on things.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!!!!!!!

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! THE BEACH............

Hello to all of you good folks out there working your little fingers to the bone. I am beaching it this week. That is not to say I am not working, because I am still with the family. But I am at the beach.....aaaahhhh...... It will all end soon enough, I'm afraid (and much quicker than we like). It is really sad that we need to work all year for one measley week of vacation.

It has not been all sunshine and good times, though. This is what it looked like when we arrived.....

Quite a thunder boomer!!!! And this was our front door.....

We only had this site for the night and then we would be moving to our site for the week, so we left the camper hooked up to the truck and angled it in the spot to miss the little lake. Luckily, we have not had anymore thunderstorms since. We did have a short shower on Tuesday morning, but it was over by the time we all woke up. It has been HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!!

This is what it looked like when I walked Zoey this morning...........

And this is Zoey enjoying rubbing in only God knows what........

Well, back to the grind --- beach, pool, nap....

See you in the real world & have a Great Day!!!!!