Just a Note & A Mission

What a glorious weekend we had!  We did get some much needed rain, which at this point I will take whenever I can get it.  It is sooo dry here!  (I can't imagine what the farmers in our area must be going through right now).  The sun came out just as we got to Maine on Friday afternoon and we enjoyed a walk on The Marginal Way at Perkins Cove.  Now that I think about it, we have photo from that!  I'll have to text my gal pal to send it to me. :)

I've got another little creation using some bits 'n pieces from a couple of kit club kits.  I forget where the plaid came from, but the rest is for sure Simple Stories - Summer Fresh.  Two months later and I am still so enamored with this line!!!  The last line I loved a line this much was BG's Ambrosia, but  there are a few new releases following CHA that have some potential...

There is something so happy (and a little decadent) about a custom covered notepad.  Maybe it's the teacher in me.  Notebooks, memo pads, steno pads and binders- I *heart* them!  I have at least 3 steno pads, a memo pad, and a mini notebook all going at the same time.   Hope springs eternal that I can get organized one of these days. :)

This week I've got another fun banner project coming on Friday over at The Hen's Den.  Until then, you have a mission!

Charlie and the rest of the gang put together a blog hop & open book quiz with the goodies above as the prize!  Start here.  Find out what the questions are, then head over to each designers blog to get the answers.  If you have been hanging out with me during the past couple weeks, then for sure you can answer the last question. *wink*  Best of luck!!!

Woof! The winner is...

Hardwoods are not a strength of Cad's, at least at our house, but he did so well it seemed like a good sharing for today.  Cad also picked the winner of his giveaway!  The lucky artist is.....

Lynn Murphy 

 July 20, 2012 4:26 PM

So glad he's doing well. How fun is this.

Email me Lynn with your snail mail I'll get Cad's prize pack out to you. :)  Thanks to everyone who participated.  Don't fret if you didn't win this time.  There is sure to be another giveaway soon. :)

I'm off to kidnap my DH from work.  I'm taking him for a drive up to Maine for his birthday dinner and fun with some friends.  How is it that today is the day it finally decides to rain.  I'll take it 'cause we need it desperately, but it couldn't have done this yesterday?!?!  I know, I know, I'm so hard to please. LOL!

Have a great weekend everyone!

PTI July Hop & Cad

Today is the July PTI Blog Hop and I'm so excited to join the fun today!!!  This month the theme is using the colors from the inspiration picture.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this combo, so finding the goods to work with was easy.  Coming up with a plan at 4:00 was a little shaky. ;P

I pulled out my trusty VW "Enjoy the Ride" set and decided to have fun with colors and shapes.  A very Tim Gunn Make it Work moment.

Each license plate has a different sentiment- I wish they would come out with an "Enjoy the Ride" additions set with other sentiments for the plate.  I've made do in the past with stuff from other sets, but wouldn't it be great to have one for Fathers Day, or thanks, or Merry Christmas?!?!  I know, I know I could just have the "happy days" sentiment, but I'm a nudge who is always looking for more.  LOL!  What can I say? :)

Speaking of wanting more, here is the video of Cad running I promised everyone.  It was on the warm side so he is slower than he has been- oh and PLEASE don't look at how huge my tuckus looks in those white shorts!!!!!

Don't forget there is still time to sign up for Cad's blog candy giveaway.  You have until tomorrow night....

Sunshine Hydrangea

This is a set I made on my ruffles kick last week.  I meant for this post to go up last Sunday- eek!  Not sure where the time went!  Thanks to all of you for your well wishes to Cad. :)  Don't forget to enter Cad's CANDY GIVEAWAY.  He's taking entries until Thursday the 26th.

Honestly this is the last hydrangea for a little while, but it is just SO HAPPY.  Every time I clean it and put it away I have another idea and have to drag it out all over again. :)

No nekkid envies here. :)  The vine might not be in the hydrangea vein, but again so stinkin' happy!  I'm hosting some family in a few minutes, but I will update this post later with the inks, papers, 'n such.  I pinky-swear!!

In the meantime, does anyone know what these are?  Good bugs or bad bugs?  They are eating a plant, so I might say bad, but then again caterpillars turn into butterflies so...

Make sure you make something fun today, do something fun today, or take a funny picture at least!!!

My bug-less bouquet is on tables here:
Allsorts: Blooms
Stamps with Fun: Lace Doily
Dream Valley Challenges: Summer
For Your Inspiration: Photo Inspiration

Cad Update and His Giveaway

A year ago I asked all of you for prayers for my "furry little brother".  So many of you posted kind thoughts here on my blog, my FB page, 2Peas, and on the PTI board.  Our little family is so grateful for all the kind wishes and we're happy to say Cad is doing fantastic!  He will never be able to use more than one step stairs (We live in a two story colonial and I have some great biceps now) or get up on any furniture by himself, but he can walk.  His pic here looks a little pathetic, he isn't a fan of water, but he is happy to see his trainer Suzy.   I can't say enough great things about Tufts Animal Hospital in Grafton MA and Paws in Motion in Natick MA.  Without them, Cad would be at the least a paraplegic and more likely he'd be dead. 

To thank all of you out there, Cad is hosting his own crafty giveaway. :)

The deets of Cad's goodie package are:
6x6 Kaisercraft pad Cock-a-doodle-doo
My Favorite Things "Puppy Love" clear stamp set
Assorted yellow, red, green buttons
6 Memory Box yellow cards
6 Memory Box white cards
1 chipboard frame
12" blue pom-pom ribbon
1 yard yellow/orange/pink flower ribbon
1 yard (I think) blue/brown star ribbon

What does Cad want you to do to be eligible for this?

1.  Hug your furry, and non-furry, family members every day.  Today we are reminded how life can change in an instant.  Appreciate what you have, show them, and tell them.

2.  Leave a comment below.  Cad loves your comments!

3.  Be a follower (if you aren't already).

4.  Post a link on your blog to this giveaway.

We're rigging up a way of having Cad pick the winner on Thursday the 26th.  That's the 1 year anniversary of him coming home from Tufts.  I'm hoping to get a new video of him running- yup running- soon.  I want all of you to be able to see his progress and I'm going to email his surgeon so she can see how far he has come!

Love and cyber hugs to all of you out in blogland.  You are an amazing group of supportive folks and you have made this especially tough 12 months much, much easier!

Hen's Den Giveaway!

The Hen's Den is hosting a Fancy Pants Giveaway!  Stop by the Design Team Blog to find out how to enter.  You could win all the stuff below!

The Country Boutique Collection kit contains:
12 sheets of double sided paper
1 Kraft corrugated paper
1 Black corrugated paper 
1 White corrugated paper 
1 Die Cut sheet 
1 Banner Die Cut sheet 
1 Alpha Sticker

Also, don't forget about loading your project to the online gallery for a chance at a $10.00 in store credit!  Did you also know that if you register as a new customer you will receive a $5.00 in store credit? 

Live, Laugh, Play- with Ruffles

Having more fun with ruffles and with more Simple Stories paper.  Seriously, when I am on a run about something I have a hard time walking away.  Yesterday's post is the one I sent to Linda for the quickfire on Sunday.  This was actually the first card I made for the challenge, but this seemed so close to this card that I had to make some other ruffly stuff too. :)  Tomorrow's post is the 3 idea I had for the quickfire- I know, I know walk away from the ruffles.  I will, after tomorrow.  Maybe. :)

Oh my goodness I'm seeing this line everywhere these days!  I can't get over how popular this line has been lately.  Very worth it though.  It is one of my favorites!  Don't see the ruffles yet?  Hmmm, guess I am making you work to see those ruffles again today. :)

Don't forget to join the fun at Catered Crop!  The challenge is ruffles- I mean how easy is that?!?!?!?!  C'mon peeps!

Ruffles!

So where are the ruffles you ask?  Why even mention ruffles?  Well Linda over at Catered Crop is hosting an easy peasy ruffles challenge and asked Torico and me to join her Top Chefs for their Quickfire this Sunday.  We needed to showcase ruffles, but wait.  You say you don't see any ruffles?

How 'bout if I take off the lid?  There are 4 yummy cards and envies inside this box.  No you still don't see any ruffles?  Huh.  I know they are here somewhere...

Oh gosh, here they are!  I'm actually in the midst of a cottage swap with a friend, so I'll do the best I can from memory as far as the deets go.  Man, I think one of my resolutions should be to get better about getting these deets out to y'al.  The stamps are from Unity- Jillybean, the card base is Memory Box, the pink paper is Crate Paper, but the strawberry paper I'll have to get the name of when I get back home.

Have a great Friday and make sure to join the fun at

this week!  The R R R Ruffles Have Ridges Challenge goes through to the 22nd (I think).   If you need inspiration Linda has a great board on her challenge post, and I will be posting 2 more ruffly ideas tomorrow and Sunday.  So really what's stopping you from joining the fun?!?!  Seriously????  Get out those ruffles and create (you can even treat yourself to some when you are done). LOL!

From the ashes of creativity

I'm trying to clean up the disaster I created in my space, but as I have mentioned before I spent a lot of time with "the grandma who survived the Depression".  You know the one who wouldn't through anything away when she could re-purpose it.  Translation- I can't throw out the scraps because they could be used to make something cute like this...

I mean come on.  How stinkin' cute is this tag card?!?!  The flowers and leaves were leftovers from my Paper Flower Wreath.  Waste not, want not, right?

The background flower pattern is stamped with the same SU stamp as I used in this card.  Told you my space was a disaster in need of cleaning. LOL!

Well I'm off to water therapy with Cad and then maybe I'll clean some more (maybe).

Happy Wednesday,

Paper Flowers Wreath Tutorial

Materials:

5-6 different sheets 12X12 double-sided pattern cardstock  ( Used here- papers from Crate Paper Resoration Collection, Crate Paper Story Teller, and Creative Imaginations Creative Café)

1-2 different sheets 12x12 solid cardstock (Used here- 1 sheet of yellow textured cardstock)

Flower & circle punches, dies, or cutting files (Used here- 1 inch scallop circle punch, Cricut Plantin School Book and Cricut Walk through my garden)

Chipboard & cardstock stickers (Used here- Crate Paper Story Teller)

Hot glue gun

Zip Dry glue

Foam tape

Twig wreath (Used one with a 6 inch opening here)

1 yard each of 2 different ruffled ribbons

Step 1:

Hot glue the ribbons around the center edge of the wreath.  I didn’t have enough to cover the center, but it is fine because the flowers will cover the “empty” space.  (The leaves are there so you can see how much they fill the space.)

Step 2:

Cut flowers, leaves, and flower centers.  The sizes used here vary from 2.5 inches to 3.5 inches.  The two largest leaves are about 4.5 inches.  Using your fingers or a pen, curl the edges of the leaves and petals.

The centers of 5 flowers have word stickers for some added visual interest and some flowers have the centers popped with foam tape, the other centers are just Zip Dry glued.

Play with the layout of the flowers and leaves.  **Tip 1-When you have everything pretty, you may want to take a digital picture and refer to your camera as you glue. 

**Tip 2- Keep each flower type to an odd number for a more aesthetically pleasing bouquet.

Step 3:

Hot glue the leaves, then flowers,

and finally the chipboard shapes to wreath.

Step 4:

Hang up your beautiful wreath and enjoy!

Hope you were inspired today!  If you make your own wreath, please leave me a comment.  I'd love to see your take on this idea. :)

Fun Freebie!

EDIT-Looks like the newsletter is not viewable on "i" hardware. :( If anyone has tips/tricks for making it viewable, don't hesitate to share. :) in the meantime, check out the e-newsletter using an "old fashioned" technology. LOL!

The Hen's Den has a free newsletter with four great tutorials, four pages of designer papers, and links to some fantastic chipboard books you can get to make your own goodies. For those of you who are really suffering in all this heat, check out Carolyn's layout tutorial. It is sure to cool you off today! :)

I'll share my wreath tutorial with y'all tomorrow AND on Friday I'll be giving a sneak peek as Guest Designer at the Catered Crop's Quickfire for this Saturday. The challenge this week is ruffles. There is oodles of time, so read the Hen's Den Newsletter and get inspired to join the Catered Crop Challenge!

BTW- The wedding was BEAUTIFUL!!!! Not a dry eye in the place. The bride and groom wrote their own vows (and both cried while reading them *awww*) and they wrote joint pledges for their girls because they wanted the girls to know how much blending their families wasn't just "mom" and "dad", but the kids too. Sooooo touching. I'm a little weepy as type this. It was like the ending of a Hallmark movie. Hope your Monday has some Hallmark happy moments!

Mason Jars and Rainbows

Happy Friday Everyone!  Today one of my good friends is getting married!!!!  I'm so excited for her, him, and all their girls.  Between the two of them they have three girls who are so thrilled to be joining into one big family this afternoon.  Just seeing them all together makes me smile. :)

They are having an informal wedding at a park in Rochester NY and we're going to celebrate at one of the pavilions after.  It's kinda like my cousin's wedding celebration 2 years ago.  This card makes me think of the happy relaxed celebration we'll be having later today.  They knew not everyone could make it to Rochester, so they are going to have a big cookout in August back here in MA.  Bless their hearts!

This is yet another creation made using the Simple Stories kit club kit I got from my LSS, Ink About It.  Most of it uses the scraps leftover from this album. 

I'm off to the wedding, but before I go I'm headed here with my mason jar:
Catered Crop- Songs of the Rainbow

Just Rite for Christmas

Can you believe it is July already!!!!  Gosh we've celebrated the 4th already even.  This is the first part of the summer when I start to panic that I won't accomplish everything I want and that the summer is flying by too fast.  Then I panic again in August that summer is really coming to an end and school will start soon.  Such worries to have huh.  LOL!  Either way, I am no where near as close to the number of Christmas cards I need!!!  Thank goodness for Christmas in July. :)  I feel some Netflix Christmas movies calling my name.  Or maybe my Jingle Bells channel on Pandora...

*Cue the Christmas music* JustRite is having a "stars and stripes" challenge so I pulled out some old JustRite stamps and decided to play around.  They were encouraging folks to think outside the box about the challenge.  Happy to oblige! 

So how are you doing on your Christmas cards?  My theory this year is get 'em done early so I can enjoy writing in them rather than rushing to get them out!  Stay tunes to see how it goes...

I'm following that star in the sky with this card to these fun places:
JustRite Friday Challenge- Stars and Stripes