Learn to Swerve

This little die has a lot of meaning to me.  I met my husband in 1969 at Pawleys Island, SC.  He had driven by our beach house in a baby blue VW Beetle.  It was an awesome summer before I headed off to college.  OK....I'm telling my age now.

I found this VW Beetle die at Aliexpress called Highway Road Car.  The center VW Beetle represents Clemson University.  Go Tigers! The yellow represent my happy color.

A2, Paper Smooches sentiment, cloud punch, pop- up dots for dimension,
stitching on border

This is for my grandson Wyatt

Hangin' Here just to say "HI"!

All little boys I've been around enjoy acting like little monkeys.  My brother is now 70 and I can remember as if it was just yesterday that he was acting like a monkey.  When I remind him of the 'good ole days', he'll give me a monkey face and sound.  He still makes me laugh.

Anyhow, Cut It Up Challenge #183 with the theme wood(s) brought back old memories which inspired me to build this card, but it will go to my grandson....not my brother.LOL  (However, I have sent him plenty of monkey cards..haha)  Now you know my secret, unless it is a seasonal card, past memories inspire my cards 90% of the time.

Every bit of this card was made using die cuts.  I bought the monkey set from Aliexpress, but when I went to get a link for my blog, the page was gone.

A2, copics for clouds and face, Paper Smooches sentiment, pop-up dots for
 dimension, dabber for edges of trees and monkey, goggle eyes

side view to show dimension

steel die set that is no longer available on Aliexpress

Never too early to say "Merry Christmas" in this day and age!

.... It's Challenge #300 at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge with an optional theme "Christmas".  This little House Mouse came off my CD.  I can't find it anywhere on the web to give a link. These days, computers don't come with a CD reader so I'm transferring them on to a thumb drive.

Cyberfriends, if you have ever followed my blog before, you can tell by my cards lately that I'm very predictable.  I will try to improve, but it will take time.  I'm still getting my feet wet again.

I use copics for mouse and ink.  "Merry Christmas" was computer generated on Silhouette Cameo and I added the ink drops.  Stockings were die cuts from Gina Marie Designs. 

A2, hook hanger punch, machine stitching, glitter pen on pen 

This is where I live now!!!

I had lived in Greenville, SC all my life except during my years in college in Charleston, SC.  I've been a passionate beach, water, ocean lover all my life.  I now have the opportunity to do just that!!!  I now live in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Below are pics I took just the other morning.  I awake many a very early morning.  I grab a cup of coffee and head to the balcony.  I get quite the morning show any given morning.  This particular morning, I grabbed my old IPhone 7 and took these pics from 6:00 am - 6:35 am....that is how quick the morning sunrise changes..

The last pic is on the other side of the building where I am able to grab a a pic of the sunset.  We have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Banana River on the other. (We won't discuss hurricanes.)

I also just finished a renovation on a little condo across the park from us.  It's also on the beach but not as high up.  I'll share the renov pics in a few days.

But cyber friends, this is why I love the beach!!! God's beauty!

6:00 AM (Sunrise)

6:20 AM (Sunrise)

6:35 AM (Sunrise)

Sunset on Banana River on other side of our building

Happy Times

Just FYI:  Just found out I was the winner at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #299.  I'm a happy girl, lady, female, person!

Traveling and cruising on ships is a very happy time for me.  I'm traveling as much as possible; you don't know tomorrow's forecast.

I made this card for my grandson Wyatt; who, like most little boys, are infatuated with trucks and cars and any thing with wheels...LOL  He loves the family zoo outings.  We have the Blue Ridge Mountains close, so I thought I would throw in a few for the card.

A2, stamp and die cut set from Aliexpress, mountain die-cuts from Lawn Fawn,
sentiment from Stampabilities, edges machined stitched, pop-ups for dimension.

Copic colors, angle view to try and show dimension, stamp and die set for truck
from Aliexpress called Farm Harvest Goods

It's FOOOOOOOOOOTBALL Time!

I am a "House Divided".  One son went to the Citadel and then to Clemson . The other son is a die-hard University of South Carolina Gamecock.  So, I have tiger and rooster sounds in my house.

With my oldest son and daughter-in-law being Clemson (grads) through and through, their children are also Clemson Tiger Fans.  I made each a personalized card.

Doodle Pantry was one of my top 3 image shops I adored. I was also on the Design Team for many years.  My very first digital image I purchased online was from Laurie, the artist and developer of Doodle Pantry.  You can no longer purchase images; her shop is closed. Sigh!

Doodle Pantry Football Birdie, cut out extra head and attached with
pop-ups for added dimension, also pop-ups for cloud and football.

A2, football was a .svg from Silhouette Store, used Peachy Keen face
on cloud punch.

Diamond Stickles was on girl tiger paw and all were machine stitched.
Angle view to help show dimension.

YES...FALL is in the AIR...

...well maybe not in Cocoa Beach but we try our best to wear "T-shirts" with Fall colors. LOL

I have said it more than once....my stamping addiction began when I was in Hobby Lobby back in 2005 and I came across the Stamp/Card making Department.  I didn't know one even existed!!! My eyes honed in to the cutest HOUSE MOUSE stamp.  That was it....I was hooked!

I have created with this image several times in the past. To change things up a little bit, I used a CIRCLE instead of a square box to accent one of the mice.  I forgot what this technique is called.  I also did a print and cut on the mouse sailing to the ground using glitter marker and pop-ups for dimension. Lastly, those lovely stitched leaf dies by Lawn Fawn.

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #299 is under way.  An included option is to use Fall colors. Done deal...LOL 

A2, I apologize for horrible lighting.  Winds at the beach and being on top floor, blew my
cards off balcony while taking pics.  I won't do that again...LOL  Rhinestone on leaves

Added sequins and yellow brad for this one.

Homemade button and string as an accent on this one.  I did one more
and it just had a different color brad.

You Make Me Smile

The blog started years ago for ME.  I was inspired by the movie "Julia and Julie".  I would post a new SVG each week and offer it free to anyone that requested it.  At the end of the year, I had posted wellover 100 free svgs, so I definitely met my goal.  

I took a long break and I'm back. I need to set a new goal even though I'm starting in September.  My goal....to make a card for each of my two grandchildren each week and to make 2 cards to send to a friend or family member....that makes a total of 4 cards a week...a pretty tall order.  They won't be near as detailed and intricate as I have made in the past, but will be made with humor and love.

Dearie Dolls was one of my favorite blogs to follow.  She had a unique style all her own that so many fell in love with, not just me.  Like me, she took a break but has not returned.  I honor her today, and many months to come, with one of her images.  This is called "Take A Bite Out Of Spring".

A2, for my granddaughter Mary Hannah, stitching, grass die cut,
cut out extra head and added pop dots for dimension and on bug,
Diamond Stickles on flower and bug

Paper Smooches sentiment, for my lovely step-granddaughter Audrey,
Clouds are a punch

Shake your ba-donkey-donk!

My awesome blue-eyed, red-headed granddaughter is having a birthday soon.  I want to lavish her with several cards leading up to her birthday.  I won't be there for the celebration.

I bought this donkey svg some years back from SVG Cutting Files.  This time around I'm making 4 cards to have on hand for upcoming birthdays.  I just don't know why this donkey always makes me smile.  The little flower is a die cut also from years past. ( I may add google eyes for fun.)  I used a Spellbinder A2 Curved Borders One die cut.  This is my "go to" set I dearly love.

Cut It Up is having Challenge #182 with the theme being farm animals.  This little donkey is walking in the pasture celebrating birthdays. ( TIDBIT: Farmers say cows, goat, sheep, horses and other small farm animals in a pasture with donkeys are more protected from coyotes.)

A2 size. mschine stitching, rhinestone on flower die, Spellbinders
A2 Curved Borders One, copics for hooves

I did a total of 4 cards using donkey; here are two others. Sorry for background

Beach Life ....... Salt Life

Sunny beach weather is back after Hurricane Dorian.  Did anyone notice that the hurricane was never referred to as "he" or "she".  Hummm...

Anyhow, I'm slowly returning to card making.  So many of yal out there have way surpassed me on the new and improved techniques, machines and gadgets.  WOW!  My goal is just to be able to make cards to send to family and friends.  OK...a challenge now and then would be fun.

You need to stop by Little Card Maker.  We have been team members on several blogs, but she continued when I stopped.  She has continued to be my inspiration until I could open my boxes and find for my inspiration.

I bought this simple little beach die from Aliexpress.  I made the words "Salt Life" on my endearing Cameo.

Cards for size A2.  I just realized I have not added a watermark.  I added puff tape for dimension and extra texture by stitching the edges.  The cloud is a punch.  The seagull is a die.

It's been a long time! Living in Florida now!

Hello...It's been quite a long time since I have posted!!!

I'm now living in Cocoa Beach, Florida. We had a visit from Hurricane Dorian.  We were lucky this time and came out with minimal damage.

I've missed creating cards and trying to get my feet wet by creating some simple, fun beach cards.  I wasn't able to bring all my supplies in my move, but that just makes it a fun new challenge.  

These dies were bought on Aliexpress.com through different companies.  I stitched the edges, and created my own sentiments using my dear Silhouette Cameo.  I was so excited to brush the dust off and seeing it still turned on.

Used some ranger inks on background paper and adding splashes of water drops.  (Thank you Lola for the inspiration.) Added shaker eyeballs on crab and used Copics to color. The little cocina shell was found right before the storm several days ago.

I call this "Marsh View" and reminds me of my brother's beach house on Pawley's Island, SC

This was made for my sweet grandson Wyatt.  I should had said, "Whale Hello".  I used Diamond Dust Liquid Pearls on both beach scenes.

All the cards are A2 size.