DON'T ASK !

Be honest.....you KNOW you have days like this!!!

This is TOTALLY CASING from Sue's Stamping Stuff.  I fell in love with her card the moment I saw her post it on her blog.  I didn't change a thing other than the paper....cause I didn't have hers...haha  Okay...I added a few black pearls.  Don't mess with a good thing and hers was goooooood!

Wiley Coyote is from the Silhouette Store.  I didn't have the stamp Sue used so I had to make my own in Pages on my Mac.

A2, stitching, ribbon, black half/pearls

Your Strength Amazes Me!

I made several of these cards.  I have several people I could learn from regarding strength. Hunter continues to progress.  He no longer has extra oxygen going into his trachea and sits up without assistance.  A good friend is going through her third series of chemo.   She takes yoga, walks everyday, cooks for her husband daily, 82 in age and thanks God each day she is given.  A family member has a brain tumor....this mountain of strength is working till the day before her surgery and will be headed to the MidEast 4 weeks after her recuperating time. Yup, these are just some of the amazing people I know.

I fell in love with card making upon discovering a House Mouse stamp at Hobby Lobby 6 years ago.  I STILL love love love the house mouse characters. The image stamp is called Heavy Lifter. The word stamp is called Your Strength found on the same page.  (I kept the card somewhat simple since I was sending one of these cards to Hunter and didn't want it too girly...haha)

A2 vertical, copics, Poppy Stamp dies, stitching

A2 vertical, Cheery Lyn die, apple brand, copics, stitching, black pearls

Helmet for Hunter

Promise, Promise....this is the last sport related card for at least 3 weeks.  I made this for Hunter being male, an athlete, sports fan and a USC Gamecock student.  I don't do enough "man" cards, so this being football season, never better than the present to get started...haha

I used Game Day collection from SVGCuts to make this a football helmet shaped card.  Mary has sooo many wonderful sets and the svgs are clean, precise along with excellent directions.

University of South Carolina.....Go Gamecocks!!!!

Are you READY........

(inside)....for some FOOOOTBAALLLLLLL !

I'm totally not in the football zone.  I know nothing!  My son goes crazy when I asked 100 times during a game, "Why did they do THAT?" My son appears to know everything about football plays....haha  He should be prepping to be a coach rather than majoring in chemistry...lol

I used Doodle Pantry Football and Helmets set.  I changed one of the colors to be a USC helmet and added the USC logo (TM), and added the darling Doodle Pantry Ant Accents.  Those ants crack me up!!! I used the football svg from SVGCuts "Game Day" set.

I'm sending this to Hunter.  He is an athlete himself, a USC student and a big Gamecocks fan! Hunter pulled is foot up and rested it upon his other knee.  HOLD ON....there's more.....he took his shoe off by himself!  There's MORE....he later made the same move and took his sock off!!! Go Hunter!

5x5, MS window punch, stitching, distressing ink, DCWV Man pad

Summer Cottage at the beach

I grew up spending my summers at Pawley's Island, SC.  People called it plain and now it's considered "shabby chic" and a definite must be vacation spot....haha  Our house was on stilts, but a little farther inland the houses looked like the scene on my card with mostly sand in the front yard.  Ahhh...the sweet memories.  Someplace I would like to be this very minute.

Anyhooooo,  this is totally KittieKraft motif.  I just love her work and the inspiration she brings with her cards.  It's amazing what a few die cuts can create.  I sometimes draw/design my own svgs similar to the dies if I don't have a die...dies can get very costly.

I made my own svg awning and used pop ups for added dimension. I used Poppy Stamps fence and  window dies.  I made my own extra long flower box svg (also using pop-ups for dimension).  I used an old McGill fern stem punch for my flower stems and I used the stars out of an old American Girl star borders punch for my flowers. I used some old designer scissors from Michaels for the curtain edges and used a tree bark embossing folder to give the curtains the look of draping.  Many pop-ups where added to the windows, curtains and fence for extra dimension.  I need to go buy some more pop-ups...haha

It's Music to My Ears...

Yup, each baby step is a milestone regarding my student who has suffered from a TMI (traumatic brain injury).  Hunter has managed to turn over on his left side, move his head on a command, and held an Ipad(showing a pic of his devoted dog) to his chest.  You go Hunter!!!!

....so these actions of Hunter are "music to my ears"!!!!!

I used a pre-colored Quirky Parrot from Doodle Pantry.   I've had this printed out for awhile and knew the moment was right to be used in a card....I just never knew at the beginning who or what it would be for, but just loving the image.  I love birds...ok..I love a lot of things, but birds are definitely on my list....haha

MB music, cage and branch dies, stitching pop-ups for dimension behind cage and scales

Challenges:

Hanging in there with you Hunter!

This card is dedicated and being sent to Hunter, my former student who was in an horrific car accident in late June. He is in his last semester of his senior year at USC.  He's now at Shepard's Center in Atlanta, Georgia.  The center's doctors and therapist are fabulous.  He hasn't responded yet verbally, but he gave me a "thumbs up" in Columbia and has finally given them one too.  Each day is a blessing.

This is a freebie set called "Crescent Moon Ants" being offered from Aug. 1 - Aug. 15 from Laurie at Doodle Pantry.  By making a card/creation with it, you are able to participate in one of the two challenges this month on the Doodle Pantry Blog.  Wow...I like the odds on that!

The image is hanging from a string, but it's hard to see in my little picture.  I used my own svg clouds, a silver charm, pop-ups for dimension and DCWV paper pack.

A2, stitching, scallop punch, Cameo cutter

Challenges:

Doodle Pantry Blog: use this image in your creation (free download)

Been thinking about ewe!

HAHA...maybe you have been thinking about "me"!  Where has this girl been and what has she been up to this past month?

• My brother's wedding in Denver
• A dear former student in a tragic car accident has left him with a trumatic brain injury...time spent with family away from home (please tell people to wear their seatbelt and NOT TEXT!)
• Illness in the family
• Getting my youngest son ready for college...two weeks away

On a sad/happy note, I resigned my position as a team member at Doodle Pantry with all the pending family matters close at hand (sad)....BUT....I can still participate in the challenges just like the rest of you....how great is that (happy)!!!

 I chose Critter Tops ewe for Doodle Pantry Blog's 1st challenge.  I used Memory Box and Die-namics die cuts along with my homemade embossing brick folder and some stitching.

Gosh..my first card in over a month...it was hard on this old girl...gotta get my groove back!

A2, dies, punches, embossing folder and stitching

Challenges:

 Doodle Pantry Blog - any Doodle Pantry image