Smiling Frogs

The LSC today was to use patterned paper, no copic or other coloring media, and limited embellishments. How fab that I spent the day going through my paper, and reorganizing! (Took ALL day!) I had these two wonderful pieces, so I used them for the challenge. I have no idea where they came from, so I can't really give anyone credit. I only know the ribbon that is printed with "smile" came from T. I added a charm to the ribbon and a few brads. Now that it's done, I'm not so crazy about it. Maybe the charm is out of place and should just be removed. Maybe you should see more of the plaid.......but I hated to have less of the frogs. Comments and criticism please!! Rain, rain go away.......bring us all a sunny day! Hugs to all!

As Time Goes By

The WT today is to use buttons........of which I must have MILLIONS!.......but I never think to use them. My son Paul and his wife Debbie are shortly to celebrate an anniversary. Their favorite movie is Casablanca, and so this song from it, "As Time Goes By", is perfect for them. I just happened to have this fabulous clock button in my stash (how cool is this!), so the button combined with the word stamp made the decision as to color. Not my first choice, but I think it goes together well. Thanks for looking, and have a great day. I'm off to PT, and will be back to comment on your gallery and blogs later. Hugs to all.

A Single Flower for the DDC

Today has started off VERY strangely.......DH said it was barely sprinkling, and that I should get into the hot tub and get some work done on my feet. As I stepped out the door, it was pouring. I thought, what the heck, and stepped in anyway. It felt lovely, but I was really wet with 2 different temperatures (the rain is pretty chilly!). I came in for coffee, and a check of the Sketch Challenge.
This is the result....and I used the Dare posted by LilLuvsStampin (Charlene) to catch up on what I missed while I was away. The rules this week were: paper piecing, piercing, and black, rose, and Kraft paper with Sage optional. These colors sure work for me!
Today is the big grocery shop day. DH is having his yearly checkup, and will come and get me.....I have been promised lunch out. Who could resist? It's supposed to rain all week (got this from you Southern gals, right??), so yard work will wait. So will just about everything else.....no cleaning or baking on rainy days!! Just reading, crafting, watching baseball games, and generally having fun. If it's raining where you are, skip the work. I give you permission!
Hugs to you all.

The Simple Things

I was really reminded about enjoying the simple things in life this morning when I got a phone call from my daughter. She was on her way to work, so we had about ten minutes to catch up. I am not a person who likes to talk on the telephone, but I sure love to hear from my kids. Their lives are so busy.......we don't get together as much as we used to, so a conversation one on one is fabulous!!
My card for the Color Challenge today is not one of my best efforts. I just noticed the small punching got stuck a little. I wanted to do a splash of pumpkin on one of the words, and forgot to do it. I hope this is not an indication of how my day is going to go.
Had a beauty of a migraine last night......guess we are in for the rain a lot of you have been getting. Our garden has exploded into lovely color, and some rain would be welcome (just not a week of it!)
I feel like I'm back into the life I left before our vacation....and I'm going to try to follow the simple life for the summer. Hugs to you all.

Making Up For Lost Time!

Two in one today for my first day back home...for the TLC, a Hinge Card (fun and easy!), and a catch up on the DDC. Fran (Francie G.) dared us to make a card with a water theme. I had this wonderful umbrella sticker that was just right to fit on the hinge card, and I cb'ed the bg in bubbles to keep the theme going. Inside it is stamped with the little umbrella stamp from SU that says "showered with love". This will go in my stash for the time being (as if I need another one in my stash!!!). Hugs to you all, and have a fun day!!

A Card-Making Frenzy!

Here is the proof that I have been on vacation for two whole weeks!

Mom and I spent each morning making

a variety of cards, as you can see!


We brought the makings of Halloween and Fall, but of course we ended up buying a few more stamps and paper and embellishments (oh surprise!!).

It was little tough taking pics of these on a really dark day, but I think you get the idea of what we were doing. In addition, we were able to eat and shop and watch baseball..........all in all, a really fun time. DH and I go back in November........I think I'll do my Valentine cards then. I'm glad to be home. Hugs to you all!

On Vacation!

Mom and I (and sometimes DH) are in NH at Lake Winnepesaukee enjoying not having to do anything special. Mom and I are just about done making our Halloween cards, and are doing Fall cards too. We have brought more stamping stuff than food, clothes, you know the drill! We go out for a sizeable lunch every day, then snack in front of the TV and watch something idiotic, or a ball game.
DH has left us his laptop, but no ability to photo the cards we have made......later I will post a picture of them all grouped together. (I'll probably have to take the photo from across the WORLD to fit them all in!!!)
I have had fun looking at what has been posted on your blogs and on SCS, but haven't taken the time to do much more....we've been too busy making a big mess in the vacation craft room.
Today I am going to Stamping Memories in the Belknap Mall to meet MARY ANDERSON......how cool is that??? Her blog stated that she had recently fallen off the wagon, and I think we should get together and *sigh* commiserate on how little $ we have left!
Hugs to you all, my friends.......be home by Monday, and back to some serious stamping with my NEW STUFF!!!

May 12th, Kite Day

It's 2 AM, and guess who's not asleep! Thank goodness the challenge was posted. This was a fun one........choose a holiday in May and make a card about it. I found May 12th was Kite Day, and since that's my 65th birthday (YES! I'm officially OLD!), that's what I chose. Also, I had this fabulous FREE digi stamp from Dustin Pike.......he offers a freebie every Wednesday on his website. I love the look on the dragon's face, and there was plenty of room for clouds. The blue and green jumped right out, and you can figure out the rest. I played with the gel pen on the dragon and also the corners.

I will be commenting in the REAL morning after I get back from the podiatrist (see? I said I was OLD!) and have my fascitis checked, and then I'll pack up my stamping stuff for two weeks vacation. (A few clothes, lotsa stamping stuff!) Be back on the 25th, rarin' to go with the challenges again.

Thanks so much for checking in here, and happy Mother's Day hugs to you all.

Kraft is Kool!

This is not my title. Kraft is Kool was the title of the WT at SCS today, hosted by Julia. I had a harder time thinking of what to call this than I did making it! I started with what was already on my table, and used a few things I never think of: my crimper, my sewing machine, and versamarking the bg. I forgot to mention I used my bone folder for curling the leaves, and a new EK punch when I listed the details in the gallery. Oh well! Attribute it to another rainy day.

If you have a chance, go to the gallery and wish Joan Ervin a Happy Birthday.......this is her day.
If it's raining where you are, smile. If the sun is out, dance (and send some sunshine MY way!). Hugs to you all!

Flowers and flowers and flowers for the Doubledog Dare Challenge

This card is for the SC, which I really liked, and also for the DOUBLEDOG DARE CHALLENGE! This week's hostess is Joanne (sleepyinseattle). She dared us to make a Mother's Day card with LOTS of flowers and some sparkle. I think this qualifies.......my dp is all flowers and I embossed eggplant paper in silver using the flower from Embrace Life (SU). For sparkle, I added gems to the flower centers, and I consider the embossed silver to be sparkle too. I hope you will join us for this fun DARE.......please enter DDC in your keyword so we can find it.

Oh No, It's Morning!

You know, I really don't do mornings well. I used to be a night person, but now I'm not good at any time of the day or night!! I posted this card for the SC today on SCS, dashed out to do errands, and got back sooner than I expected. Now I'll have time for breakfast, picking up (UGH!), and cleaning up the mess I made making this card. I bought this stamp over a year ago, specifically because I thought it was so funny! The face on the lion really kills me! Finally I had a chance to ink it up. I hope you like it.

I'll be posting for the next two days, then off for two weeks vacation. DH will be joining Mom and me when he can......this is a busy season for his Track and Field officiating. Mom and I will be crafting, and hitting the few remaining stamping stores in central NH. We'll also be going out for lunch every day, and tooting around in general at a few antique shops. This is when we get a start on Fall cards, and the majority of our baggage is stamping related, of course.

Have a great day. It's gray and overcast here.......supposedly for most of the week. Good weather for making cards, right? Hugs to you all!

A Blossom For You

A fast card this morning for the CC on SCS. The colors are Cameo Coral, Garden Green and Ballet Blue. I love using the markers to "paint" the stamp, and also to use a template to make clouds. Luckily, the template I use is clear, so I can see pretty much where to put the clouds......but occasionally the branches get in the way! I am off to PT this morning.......be back to check out your beautiful cards a little later. Have a wonderful day, and hugs to you all.

Simple Pleasures

Embossed Wax Paper Resist is such a fun technique! Besides, it gives me a reason to own an iron!! DH laughed when he saw it on the counter this morning.......he said, "Oh. I see you're doing the challenge today!" He knows me VERY well!! I used a digi stamp from Hambo Stamps. It was free, and the result of looking at glitterbabe's blog (thanks, Stef!), where she had posted a card using this digi. I thought it was cute, and my mind went right to the cb Tiny Bubbles folder.

My simple pleasures in the summer revolve around the pool, a cool drink, a book, and grandkids and kids enjoying it with me. DH prefers the shaded porch, with an occasional dip to cool off. SIDE STORY: When we were first dating in 1961 (WOW!), he said he would pick me up for the beach. I packed a nice lunch, radio, blanket...you know, what you would take. I got things all out on the sand, he ran into the water, came back on the beach, and said he was ready to go. I found out what he thought the beach was for..........swimming. Last time we went!!!

We have just opened the pool, and it is green, COLD, and I am NOT in it. In fact, I don't go in until the water is 80 degrees. Until then, I am content to use the hot tub, and bask. Only the little kids go in when the water is not so warm........apparently it doesn't bother them so much!!
Our plants survived the winter, and we are slowly getting some needed yardwork done. It's supposed to rain most of the week, so not much will get weeded. I guess I'll have to be in my craft room. Oh Darn!! LOL! Have a wonderful day!!

Mother's Day Card from my sweet Erin!

The mail just arrived. Look what came.......My sweet granddaughter, Erin, (age 11) made a special card for me! I wish you could see this. IRL, the flower has been painted with H2O's, and has the most beautiful golden sheen to it. She knows my favorite color, and used it as the background and for the flower. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had made this card in Teal and Purple (her favorites), but since she used RED, I take it as a real compliment!! Thank you Erin! You are so very SPECIAL!

Down Memory Lane

There is a story involved here. My eldest DS got aJohn Deere tractor for Christmas the year he was three. It was from my parents, and we were at their house for the holidays. that morning, he stood at the top of the stairs and could see it with a big RED bow. He yelled, "Hey Grampa! Wait'll you see the son-of-a-gun-of-a-big-tractor santa brought me!". Since then, that's what we have always called them. I think this would be a perfect card for him, even though he's 44 now!

An Adventure!

This is Jake, my 9 and 3/4 year old grandson. He and I had quite an adventure yesterday! His mother had an away meet of her Track Team, and Dad was in a meeting, so Buppa (his Grandfather, my DH) was to pick him up at the end of school. A call came for Buppa to tutor, so Mimi (that's me) went to get him. He forgot.....and got on the bus. I panicked when he didn't show up, and went to the office, where they contacted his teacher (who lost his note, and also forgot!). They gave me directions to find the bus, and 20 minutes later, we found each other. PHEW! as we were walking to my car, he started to cry, and as I rushed to comfort him, I tripped over his rolling book tote, and made a perfect 3 point landing (both hands and one knee). Now he really was upset, but I told him I was fine, and we left. I thought to make up for the things that had gone wrong we would get an icecream sundae, but when we got to the DQ, it was mobbed. So....back to my house, where I made Jake a sundae of: butter crunch, choc. sauce, sprinkles, swedish Fish, and caramel. I, on the other hand, had a glass of wine. What an adventure! Today I am sore in places I didn't know I had. I hope to play after my dental appt this AM. Have a great day if this is my only post!!!