What a Weekend!! And a Cool Find :)

WHEW!  It's been a whirlwind of a weekend, but filled with all happy, wonderful things.  Saturday we were at my nephew's 5th birthday at this cool place, called Monster Mini Golf.  If you've never been - you should see if they have one near you - totally cool.  It's a mini golf course that's inside - everything is painted with neon paint, and there are blacklights all in the main room, so everything glows.  My daughter picked out her shirt 2 weeks in advance, it's white, with neon orange sleeves, yeah, I had NO trouble finding her, lol.

After the birthday party, we headed back near home and took the girls to "Kids' Night Out" at a local gymnastics place.  It was a fundraiser for a new playground at the school.  The hubs and I went out to dinner at a local place -- if any of you watch "The Dead Files" on the Travel Channel, Smalley's Inn was where we ate, and it was featured on the show.  I personally, have never had an encounter there, but it's neat to hear all of the stories!

Today, was a different fun occasion.  A very old long-time friend was up to visit making plans for her wedding in the fall, and her Mom had a little luncheon for the bride-to-be before she returns home.  My sister-in-law pinned this really cute gift idea on Pinterest, and I thought it would be nice to do this for Amanda, instead of toasting flutes, or some other "routine" wedding gift.  I found a great vendor on Etsy, quick turn around - and she was able to engrave the wedding date on the ends of the forks as well.

So, I made a little box (nothing fancy - the templates I have weren't quite the right size to fit the forks) and a coordinating card that held a gift card to where she is registered.  Silly to buy a gift that will have to be shipped, or packed to go back home!  Here's the box with the forks:

a very simple box with a clear lid.  It's hard to see, but I used Stitches and Swirls to add a little something on the orange panel in the bottom of the box.  The forks say "I do" and "Me Too!" with their wedding date on the ends of the forks.  

Up next is the card 

I used Orange Zest, and cryogen white (Shimmery) cardstock.  The leaf flourish is from Embroidered Blooms, and stamped in Simply Chartreuse and Ripe Avocado.  The blooms are die cut with Beautiful Blooms II #3 dies, and also stamped with images from Embroidered Blooms in Orange Zest and Terra Cotta Tile.  The sentiment (one of my favorites!) is from Think Big Favorites #5.  

Here they are together:

I spent a really nice afternoon with Amanda and her family, and am so happy for her as she is about to embark on this wonderful journey with her lucky guy.  Now --- it's back to work tomorrow!  Blech.  But - at least I have a wonderful weekend to look back upon!

So, what did YOU do this weekend???  Hope it was something great!  Thanks for stopping by!

Make It Monday - Pinwheels!

Well, helllooooooooo strangers!!  It's been a long time since I've been over here at the blog - and I'm SO sad about that!!  It's been a whirlwind with the holidays, and a bunch of other things in "real life" that I haven't been too crafty - nor ready to post anything here.

The New Year started off well - my husband (an Electrician) has decided to go out on his own instead of working for a contractor...this is a HUGE, SCARY step - but each day, I am encouraged more and more that this was the right step.  My girls are SUPER busy with activities, which is another big reason I haven't been around much!  All this running around, I'm POOPED by night time (which is when I usually create!  Talk about stealing your mojo!)

Anyhoo -- I really adored the challenge this week over at Papertrey - the Make It Monday challenge this week was to incorporate a handmade pinwheel into your project.  I'll be honest, I didn't actually WATCH the video before I started, and I thought I was so clever to use some patterned PTI paper back to back, only to find out it was IN the video, lol.

Here's my take:

I went big and bold -- a cheery happy card, I think!  The sentiment was embossed with white EP, and I made the background on the base with the Hello Sunshine stamp set.  It felt great to create - and I hope this is the jumpstart I needed to get back in the game!  Thanks for popping by!

Supplies (All PTI unless otherwise noted):

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #15, Hello Sunshine

Ink: Versamark, Hawaiian Shores

Paper: Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise Patterned Paper Pack, Raspberry Fizz Patterned Paper Pack

Accessories: White embossing powder, Recollections frosted jewels, Royal Velvet Vintage buttons

Are You Still Full From Thursday????

Thankfully, I am not.  I did well to pace myself this year, lol.  Hello out there!  Hope this message finds everyone refreshed after Thanksgiving, and looking forward to Christmas!


We've got our tree up, and the decorations up outside, too.  This is my favorite time of year!

Figured I'd pop by and share a little something here on the blog, it's been a while!

This is the card I made for my sweet husband for our Anniversary this year :).  He's not a sweet, sappy kind of guy, and boy, do we LOOOOOVE coffee.  Oh, and the fact that I even LIKE coffee is all his fault.I used an actual coffee mug to make the coffee rings on the card front, a little scrap of some patterned paper, and those sweet little 'to go' cups from Heart-2-Heart 1.

Way back when, before we had a house, kids, etc.  We would take a ride to this gas station JUST for a cup of coffee.  That was before Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks came to town...funny to think that we'd drive all that way just to get a cup of coffee...oh yeah, gas was probably $.99 a gallon then, too!  I could fill my tank, and buy 2 cups of coffee for less than $15!  Those were the days, lol.

But I digress...

I am so lucky to have such an amazing guy in my life, he completes me, and I truly am very, very blessed, one of the MANY things I am very grateful for...

Did you do any shopping this weekend?  I'm kind of down and out with a bit of a cold, so I stayed home, but did do a little shopping today via the internet.  Felt good to get started, but not even sure of everything I need to get...THAT'S the hard part!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Supplies: (All PTI unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Heart-2-Heat 1, Signature Greetings II
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Tea dye duo
Paper: Dark Chocolate patterned paper pack, Kraft, Select White
Accessories: Heart-2-Heart 1 die

PTI Blog Hop Time!

It's the 25th - so it's Papertrey's monthly blog hop today!

This month's challenge was to utilize a non-traditional color scheme for a holiday card.  I fell in love with this color combo when I saw it:

However - when I sat down to make something...I think this looks more like a Spring card, instead of Christmas, lol.  

I liked the idea of the colored snowflakes...and I liked the idea of the glittery flourish...but I can't help but think upon quick glance that those snowflakes are flowers...maybe it's the pearls??  I don't know...but anyway -- I'm loving all of the inspiration I've seen so far, can't wait to take some time tonight, and hop around some more.  Thanks for stopping by -- wishing you all a GREAT day!!

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted):

Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Stylish Sentiments: Holiday

Ink: Versamark, Berry Sorbet

Paper: Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet, Spring Moss, Harvest Gold, Select White

Accessories: Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Heat & Stick Powder (SU!), Dazzling Diamonds glitter (SU!), Pearls and rhinestones (Reflections by Michaels)

A Little Birthday Ombre...

Had some fun playing around with an ombre technique (that's fancy for repeated stamping without re-inking, lol).

I used the long line with a curl at the end image from Waltzingmouse Stamps Free Spirit -Boy set, obviously not using the curl part ;).  I just stamped, and then lined the stamp up next to the previous line, and worked my way out to the corner.  A nice big sentiment from PTI, and I was good to go!

I liked it so much - I made another one, but with different colors...and this time I added some cute little wood veneer stars...

Orange is my favorite color, so I think I may be a little partial to this one, which one do you like better??  This inquiring mind would like to know :).

I'm grateful the weekend is upon us, though it will be a busy one!  Thanks for stopping by, wishing you all a great day!!

Supplies:

Blue Happy Birthday:

Stamps: Free Spirit-Boy, Waltzingmouse Stamps, Think Big Favorites #14

Ink: Pacific Point (SU!), Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Pacific Point (SU!), Select White (PTI)

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch

Orange Happy Birthday:

Stamps: Free Spirit-Boy, Waltzingmouse Stamps, Think Big Favorites #14

Ink: Orange Zest (PTI), Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Orange Zest (PTI), Classic Kraft (PTI)

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Wooden Veneer Stars (Studio Calico)

Follow Your Dreams...

I made this one a while back, to submit for a publication, and it didn't get picked up.  Over the years, I've tried a few times, and it really is hard when you LOVE something you've made, but it just doesn't "fit" in the scheme of things the publication is looking for.  BUT -- I will keep submitting as I can, as I would love to be "in print" someday! :)

I cut a rainbows-worth (and then some) of cardstock with the Butterfly die from Papertrey Ink, and layered them into one, beautiful VERY dimensional butterfly, with a sparkly jeweled trail behind it :).

What are you dreams?  Winning the lotto, and retiring?  Going skydiving? Being a parent? Getting married?  I would love to hear.

Having a great weekend, hope you are, too!!  Thanks for popping by!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Fillable Frames #3 (PTI)
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, New Leaf, Hawaiian Shores, Spring Rain, Blueberry sky, Plum Pudding, Royal Velvet, Select White (all PTI)
Accessories: Butterfly Die (PTI), Doodlebug gems, paper piercer, corner rounder punch, pop-dots

Hello!! It's been a while...

Hi there!  Remember me?  Yeah, I didn't think so...lol.  It's been SO long since I've posted!!  School is back in session, and we are slowly, reluctantly, but FINALLY getting back into the swing of things!  This Summer was a TON of fun, lots of adventure, and wonderful time spent with family.

I found this on my computer, and realized I never shared it -- so what better way to jump back in than with a 'Hello'! card :)

I loved these freebie images that Nichole Heady & Co. made available at one of the Papertrey Ink anniversaries :).  Fun little tags, and embellishments can be made from these!  I chose the 'Hello' sentiment, and punched it out.  I colored the bottom with my copics --and then started playing with my ribbon.  I thought it would be a fun idea to keep the card base black and white, and then have all these different colors of ribbon really make the statement.  So that's exactly what I did.  Different textures, colors, all added for a big punch of fun!

I'm hoping to make this more of a 'regular' thing (I know, I know, I've said that before...but for REAL this time!) So I hope you'll be back to visit!!

Have a great day!!

Supplies:
Stamps: freebie digital image from Papertrey Ink
Ink: printer only!
Paper: PTI True Black, Select White
Accessories: Raspberry Fizz Swiss Dot, Pure Poppy Grosgrain, Orange Zest Saddle Stitched, Summer Sunrise Swiss Dot, Lemon Tart Satin, Harvest Gold Grosgrain, Simply Chartreuse Saddle Stitched, New Leaf Satin, Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dot, Royal Velvet Grosgrain 1.75" limitless layers circle dies, corner rounder punch.