CAS(E) this Sketch: Follow Your Heart

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.  This sketch has a fun swoosh for stamps, or embellishments or colors.  I went with hearts!

I was also inspired by the current challenge at Addicted to CAS:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Whimsical Words
• Paper: Stampin' Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Papertrey Ink New Leaf, Stampin' Up Ballet Blue, Perfect Plum
• Ink: Memento black
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Mini Hearts die, MFT Fishtail die, misc twine, Cuttlebug embossing folder

The Play Date Cafe: Delicate Doilies

It was working really hard at coming up with some new way to use these doily stamps - but then I decided they don't need anything fancy - they are cute enough to do all of the work for you for a great quick and easy card.  But...I did go for unique colors.  I am playing along with this week's colors at The Play Date Cafe.  I thought they had a bit of a Southwest vibe so...here's my attempt at Southwest doilies!!


The colors are steel blue, peach and apricot.  I write that because the graphic that follows looks much more muted that I went and I think the darker color looks like black.  But I checked design team cards and I think I'm not too far off.  I did add a little gray since I was seeing it in the photos.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps delicate doilies
• Paper: Stampin' Up Peach Parfait, Night of Navy
• Ink: Stampin' Up Peach Parfait, Night of Navy, Papertrey Ink Canyon Clay
• Accessories: Jolee's Boutique Vintage Round Buttons, Brushed Silver brads, Maya Arts twine

Happy Mother's Day: Miss You

I am looking back in two ways today.

I am not generally one to look back - there is so much to look forward to!  But as I sat at my son's lacrosse game yesterday, I saw so many grandparents and I missed my mom.  My mother moved to our town thirteen years ago when I had my second child.  It was wonderful to have her and it was very good for her too.  My father died very young - in his mid-40s.  At the time, he was a well-respected high school principal and the town honored his life by naming the high school gymnasium after him.  My mother lived many years in that town with those memories - and it wasn't always happy.

My mom truly blossomed when she moved here.  She had two young grandchildren to play with.  When she wasn't playing in the park or taking them for ice cream, I introduced her to card-making.  (For those that know both of us - I started her in card-making!!)  She quickly started our church card-making ministry which became a huge part of that church - and the community, as once people knew that there were racks of cards there, the church got regular visitors!  She was also a Close to My Heart consultant.  Creating cards became her life.

When she died unexpectedly almost six years ago - I knew that I would miss her, but I cannot say I mourned her.  She was a strong Christian and I knew that she had missed my father for over half of her life.  

She had become such an important part of the church, that church members could not believe she had only been part of that church for only seven years.  The church memorial service was postponed almost a month because the choir was doing a European tour but they couldn't imagine not singing at her service. The service was followed by a potluck meal with fried chicken because it was well known that she never missed a good Lutheran potluck!!  We also celebrated her life when all of the church card-makers gathered at her home and raided her stash!   Her stamps, papers and supplies got a new life with each of these card-makers and the church card-making ministry continued.

I love you mom...

The inside of that poppy is much nicer in real life.  I used Black and Pitch Black Spica Glitter pens and just started dotting.


I started by saying that I am looking back in two ways.  The second reason is that I had the honor and the thrill of being part of the first Dynamic Duos design team so I had to play along this week as they celebrate their first anniversary!!  The challenge is to pick a favorite from their past color challenges.  I picked Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade mainly because I was totally distressed that these two colors didn't make it back into the new color line-up at Stampin' Up.

Happy Anniversary Dynamic Duos!!

• Stamps: My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies
• Paper: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Basic Black
• Ink: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies dies and Fishtail dies, Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder, Divine Twine Black Licorice, Spica Glitter Pens in Black and Pitch Black

WPlus9Monday Mood Board: Take Joy

I had my box of WPlus9 stamps out and decided that I should play along with their Monday Mood Board.  Just like yesterday's card, I had avoided this challenge.  I think it is hard and I just could not figure out what to do with all of those neutrals along with the lace and ribbon flowers and other feminine touches.  I didn't end up with any actual lace or flowers, but I think it's feminine!!

• Stamps: WPlus9 Sweet Nothings
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Fine Linen
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Fine Linen, Memento Black
• Accessories: Prima Wood Embellishments, Sizzix embossing folder, misc twine and pearls

Cloud9 with WPlus9: Just a Note

It's time for the monthly Cloud9 challenge to use WPlus9 products and an inspiration photo.


I almost did not play along this month - it's a very flowery photo and I'm not typically a flowery person. But I do love these Blanket Stitched Blooms from WPlus9 - they have a rustic look that makes me happy!

• Stamps: WPlus9 Blanket Stitched Blooms
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, My Mind's Eye Lavender 6x6
• Ink: Stampin' Up Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Rose Romance, Lucky Limeade, Memento Gray Flannel, Versamark
• Accessories: WPlus9 Blanket Stitched Blooms die, Martha Stewart Tag Doily, MFT Fishtail Dies, Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist and Sweet Blush buttons, white embossing powder

CAS(E) this Sketch: For You with a Bird Brain

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  It's a nice basic look and allows so much room for creativity!

For some reason, probably the size of it, but I got a postage stamp image in my head when I saw this.  I put together a tiny little, wide-eyed bird from Bird Brain at The Alley Way Stamps with a teeny tiny sentiment.

I do hope to see lots of you playing along this week!
FYI - be sure to check out my new blog look courtesy of the great Jackie Rockwell!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Bird Brain, tag-alongs (the sentiment)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay, Summer Sun, American Crafts Soho Garden dsp, Simon Says Stamp woodrain paper
• Ink: Memento Espresso Truffle, Copics
• Accessories: gems colored with copics, Stampin' Up postage punch

Thank You Ever So Much with Hexagons

Everybody knows that I love challenges.  Virtually every card that I make starts with a challenge  - I need a starting point.  By taking one decision out of the equation - the sketch, the colors, the technique, my brain is freed up to be creative on the rest of the card.  I usually play one challenge on a card; maybe two.  But today I was looking at my Chronicle app (see iPod/Ipad app tab) which is my storage place for each day's challenges - and three of them called my name!!!

This card is the sketch from Nacho Average Challenge, the colors from colourq, and the hexagon challenge from CASology.

It's also one my rare cards that has a specific destination.  I have an incredibly gracious friend who regularly invites a group of friends over to her beautiful home to chat, drink coffee, knit - just be relaxed and happy.  As soon as I hit publish on this post, I am going to put a coffee cake in the oven, take a shower and head over to Carol's with my thank you card in hand.   Happy day!!

FYI - be sure to check out my new blog look created by the great Jackie Rockwell and debuted yesterday!!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Happy Hexagons, Simple Sentiments
• Paper: Stampin' Up Sage Shadow
• Ink: Stampin' Up Sage Shadow, So Saffron, Blush Blossom, Calypso Coral
• Accessories: Stampin' Up button, Calypso Coral twine, MFT Fishtail dies, Lifestyle Crafts hexagon die, misc pearls