Congrats to my New Driver!!!

I have a new driver in the family - a teenage boy.  And I'm not even nervous!!  My oldest is a sweet and charming guy, but somewhat timid about life.  He's a ways past the normal age that kids get driver's licenses and I am truly tired of driving him around - so this is a day of rejoicing for me!   As I was getting more and more frustrated with the situation, I was calmed by many parents with the same stories - their kids just weren't interested in getting their license.  None of us had the answer, but we wonder if it's just a matter of these poor kids knowing too much.  They see drivers with cell phones glued to their ears; they hear our frustration, and even fear, when other cars do stupid things; and they all know kids who have had serious accidents.

FYI - If you are still reading my blog in a few years when my other teenage boys gets his license - you will definitely be hearing another story.  He'll be there on his birthday, and I will be scared to death.  He's an entirely different personality and I am NOT looking forward to it!!

The only thing that worried me slightly - nothing to do with my son personally - but the driver's test started and ended in 6 minutes.  And 2 minutes of that was sitting in the parking lot stepping on the brakes and using turn signals.  Only four minutes of driving and my guy has a license.  Seriously?  I am now officially scared of every other licensed driver out there!

I had a "congratulations" card all ready to go. This Bravo set from the new Stampin' Up catalog was in my first order.  It's full of congrats and way-to-go's and I saw myself getting a lot of use out of it as I have a high school senior and high school freshman this year.


This card is based on the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches just stretched a bit to be taller!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Bravo
• Paper: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Confetti Celebrations dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, Copics
• Accessories: Spellbinder narrow rectangle die, Hemptique 10-lb Natural twine, Stampin' Up star bard (retired), Pretty Pink Posh silver star sequins

Catered Crop: A College-Bound Princess

This is my second shaker card for Catered Crop's shaker box challenge. My first card is here along with links to further inspiration, an instructional video, and a highly-recommended adhesive!!

A friend asked if I could create a card for a college-bound young lady, whom my friend described as a "princess".  It certainly seemed that pink and sequins would be fitting!!  This is my favorite part about making my own cards - creating just the right card for the recipient.  I used to spend hours at my local Hallmark store reading every card that they had - and I usually just settled.  Now I spend those hours making my own!  (Yes, most of my cards take an hour or more - can you say "overly obsessive"?)  Do Hallmark stores even exist any more?  Our local store closed a number of years ago and I miss browsing the cards and cute little gifts.

• Stamps: My Favorite Things Happy Graduation
• Paper: Pebbles Garden Party, Simon Says Cotton Candy, Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Limitless Layers Heart Stitches dies, My Favorite Things Fishtail Layers dies, Pretty Pink Posh sequins, Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles die

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Be Fancy

I just wanted to remind you that there are still a few days left in the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.  And I wanted to remind you that the rules have recently changed and "anything goes" but you can also be inspired and challenged by our graphic!

The sponsor for this week is Waffle Flower.  One random participant will get a Waffle Flower stamp set and the each of us on the design team got to work with their products.  They have a fun bow tie set that was clearly perfect for this challenge!


I used the coordinating dies to cut a "fancy" bow tie from felt.  I haven't had my felt collection out in a very long time, but after I played with a variety of patterned papers and just didn't feel any of them gave it enough "oomph" - I thought the dimension of felt would do it!
The Curtain Call challenge ends on August 10th at 8 a.m. CDT.  Since it's anything goes - you really have no excuse not to play along, right??!!!  After all, there is a prize to be had!

• Stamps: Waffle Flower Bowtiful
• Paper: Simon Says Fog, Surf Blue, Sunshine
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Waffle Flower Bowtiful dies, PTI Aqua Mist button, Hero Arts white embossing powder, Lil' Inkers Rectangle Stitched die, Pretty Pink Posh clear sparkling sequins

Freshly Made Sketches: Celebrate!

As my post title says...I am celebrating today!!  I get to be a guest at Freshly Made Sketches for the month of August!!  I love this challenge and I love all of the designers.  They are so friendly and have been so welcoming.  I am really looking forward to this month.

Here is the sketch that I got work with - and now you have until next Monday to play with it too.  Lots of room to play on this one!

I just got an order including some stamps from Altenew.  I have loved what I've seen done with the Hennah Elements, but after I got it, I realized I was a little intimidated by it.  It's a builder type set and if you search on the set, you will see the gorgeous patterns that people have created.  I'm not a great "builder" - particularly with random patterns.  So I decided the small panel on this sketch was a great way to practice. Even though my card doesn't have all of the incredible frills that others have incorporated - I love how it came together.

Be sure to check out what the design team at Freshly Made Sketches has created - so much inspiration for all of us to enjoy!  Then play along - I look forward to seeing what each of you create.

• Stamps: Altenew Hennah Elements, Label Love
• Paper: Stampin' Up Moonlight dsp, Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand cardstock
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: October Afternoon Sasparilla button, Hemptique 10-lb white twine, Doodlebug Lilac Sequins

Catered Crop: Shake It Up Baby!!

Well, shake it up, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)
Twist and shout (Twist and shout)
C’mon c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby, now (Come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (Work it on out)
~ Twist and Shout lyrics, 1961



The current challenge at Catered Crop is to do a shaker box.  I have done lots of shaker boxes this summer since my first shaker on April 27 - here they all are gathered together. They are a little fussy to do, but really not difficult.  Here's a video that helped me.

My card today is a throwback to my very first shaker card.  I like the mini shaker with the balloon die cut. The first card was cute, but I wanted a more elegant look for this one.  (FYI - it's not unusual for me to see a problem with a card after I photo it.  In this case, I wish I would have added some color behind that balloon so it stood out better.  On many cards, it's not all that difficult to do some minor surgery and take another photo.  Not so much with shaker cards - once they are adhered, you are stuck with it - so you'll just have to imagine a colorful balloon!)

I have fallen in love with a particular adhesive for shakers.  It's fairly pricey and you don't get much, but (1) it's clear, (2) it's narrow and (3) you can bend it around things like this balloon.  It's Kool Tak Double-Sided Clear Foam Ahesive.  You'll probably only get five or six cards out of it (if you use it just for the shaker and not to raise an entire panel), but it's worth it to avoid headaches!

As always, Linda has curated a Pinterest board to give you lots of inspiration.  Throughout the week, the Catered Crop design team will give their takes on shaker cards, and on Sunday, they will all be gathered together on a Catered Crop post.

I hope to see you shake it up!!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Birthday Style, Simon Says Happy ("happy")
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Melon Berry, Limeade Ice, Vintage Cream
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Melon Berry, Limeade Ice, Aqua Mist
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Birthday Style and Birthday Trio dies, Webster's Pages Party Time sequin mix. Hemptique 10-lb natural twine

My Favorite Things: Hugs 4U

If you asked me my least favorite color - it would be yellow.  I truly dislike yellow.  I can't explain it - I have no recollection of a bad yellow-related memory! If I do use it, it's generally more of a golden color and only if I need it for a sun or a fall leaf.  With that as background, I have to say that the least favorite color in my entire cardstock collection is My Favorite Things Banana Split.  (No offense intended - I love everything else by MFT!)  And wouldn't you know it, the color challenge at MFT includes Banana Split!

I knew that I had to play...after all, it's a "challenge"...but I did put it off until the last few days of the monthly challenge.  I wanted to use the new Tag Builder Blueprints 1. I probably wasn't supposed to add the kraft, but as I was working on the tag, I was getting a retro vibe and wanted to add some wood paneling. (Think old-time station wagons and family rooms...although my family room still has wood paneling and I LOVE it!!)


I was inspired by the current MFT sketch although I was dead set on using the Tag Blueprint instead of the big banner!

• Stamps: My Favorite Things backgrounds: Woodgrain, Diagonal Stripe, Typewriter Text
• Paper: My Favorite Things Sno Cone, Banana Split, Blu Raspberry Tangy Orange, Kraft
• Ink: My Favorite Things Sno Cone, Banana Split, Kraft
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Dies: Tag Builder Blueprints 1, Squiggle Border, Lots of Love ("hugs"), Blueprints 10 (the curved panel)

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Celebrate with Style

There's a new challenge starting today at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.

With this first challenge after our big anniversary challenge, there are a couple of changes to the "rules".  First, all challenges are going to be "anything goes"; however, we will still provide a challenge graphic for your inspiration.  Using the graphic is optional, but we love to see you play along no matter what you create! Second, when there are sponsors, prizes will be given based on a random drawing.  Finally, the LEAD chosen for the challenge will be invited to be the guest designer for an upcoming challenge.

We have a new sponsor, Waffle Flower Crafts, and a randomly selected participant in the Bow Tie challenge will have their choice of a Waffle Flower Crafts stamp set!

I love the bow tie sets at Waffle Flower!  In my vast stamp stash, I did not have a bow tie until I got this set. This was quite an oversight for me as I married a man originally from Virginia and those Southerners wore bow ties long after we Coloradans did (at least according to him). He never had a blinged bow tie but he definitely had a yellow one that I saw regularly early in our relationship.

The Bowtiful set is full of fun mix-and-match sentiments, two-sizes of bow ties, and a fun sprinkle of stars that I used to fancy up the bow tie. Waffle Flower also has a Bowtiful Additions set with even more mix-and-match sentiments.  Each has coordinating bow tie dies.  
I am using Lisa's current Wanna Sketch.  When she came out with her monthly sketch, I immediately bookmarked it for this challenge as I knew it would perfectly show off a bow tie!

I'm also adding this to the Simon Says Anything Goes challenge.

Be sure to check out all of the design team cards at Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Bow Tie - here's a list if you want to check them out individually.

Bow Tie Designers

Waffle Flower Crafts Designer, May Park

Amy Sheffer

Amy Tsuruta

Gayatri Murali

Kim Singdahlsen

Laurie Willison

Lisa Henke

Sheri Gilson

Sarah Gough

Stacey Schafer

Tenia Nelson

Tracey McNeely

• Stamps: Waffle Flower Crafts Bowtiful
• Paper: Simon Says Smoke, Slate, Sunshine, Audrey Blue
• Ink: Simon Says Slate, Versamark
• Accessories: Waffle Flower Crafts Bowtfiul die, MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags, Sparkle White Embossing Powder, mini sequins from Michaels