Quote of the Week

Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. ~Albert Einstein

My girl is determined to learn to ride her bike without training wheels, and it is really hard for her to understand the whole "balance while moving" concept!

At right, you see my handsome cycling brother (in Switzerland on his way to dinner w/friends) when he was touring Europe solo on his bike a few years ago.

Card Crazy

A few weeks ago I taught a card class using the new Card Confidence Program book, Wishes.

Well, I cut too many card sets (on purpose) so that I could make extras to have on hand. Talk about card crazy! All the cards on the left use the "Name Tag" sketch. (I used that one on my button card I posted a while back.) I just love this 3"x6" and the simplicity of the sketch.

Each card uses the Animal Cookies paper pack and the colors Tulip, Sunflower, Clover Meadow, and Dutch Blue. I used several stamp sets: June Word Puzzle, With Love, It's a Party, and Noteworthy. The Clover Meadow ribbon and Dutch Blue My Accents are retired, but everything else is current CTMH product. Just sayin'.

The right set of cards use the "All Stacked Up" sketch from Wishes. The stars were leftover from class, but all the other stamped images come from the Dream Big current incentive stamp set. The colors of the top three cards are Holiday Red, Indian Corn Blue, and Outdoor Denim on Colonial White bases. The bottom card is my favorite. "Hey Lady" on the ladybug stamp just tickles me. I used a black pen and marker to add details.

Thanks for looking!

Weekend Stuff

We've been enjoying a very nice weekend! Our garden is finally starting to produce. Here are my first grape tomatoes ripening and two baby cukes. The squash are not doing that well but we'll see. I'm also starting to wonder if any of our regular-sized tomatoes will ripen at all!

Yesterday after some house cleaning (YUCK!), we went to our friends' house for a little bit of playing on the lake and a delicious dinner. I have a new recipe to try out now, though I doubt I can make it as well as "Chef" Paul!

Today the house cleaning saga continues. We are really trying to reorganize, purge, etc. I always say that teachers don't do spring cleaning but rather summer cleaning.

On a much brighter note, here are some pictures from our anniversary on Wednesday: a gorgeous flowering pot from my MIL, beautiful flowers from my sweet hubby, and finally the four of us at the Resort before a scrumptious lunch.

How have you spent your weekend? It's always fun to catch up with friends, so leave me a comment!

Laugh Together Layout

(AKA Daddy's Girls)

The photos are from Macey's birthday, but I chose to use them to celebrate Daddy's relationship with his girls rather than her birthday. Surprisingly enough, I've had the layout for a long time (since the Close To My Heart Regional Celebration in April '08 when we made it) and finally had the "perfect" pictures to go with it.

Close To My Heart supplies: Good Times paper pack; Angel Whispers, Friendship Word Puzzle, Celebrate Life, and The Works alphabet stamp sets; Twilight, Chocolate, Buttercup, and Sweet Leaf inks; Twilight and Sweet Leaf markers; Dimensional Elements (chipboard) Fresh Shapes; Clear Inspiration Acrylic Tags; Shades of Chocolate Mini Medley Accents; Cottage Edge Anchors; Hemp

Techniques: Rock 'n Roll stamping; sponge shading; fringed paper; sanding; stamped photo corners (flowers)

Sketch: "Full House" from Imagine

HOPpiness Is...

...COUSINS!

You may remember my plea a while back for help with a trampoline layout title. (Thanks for all the responses and help!) It hit me while walking my dog one evening: HOPpiness is...

Remember those cartoons from the '70s? Oh sure you do! That really summed up the kids playing together and then laughing out loud about the photos later.

Life is good!

Close To My Heart supplies:

The Works alphabet, It's a Party!, and Dream Big (incentive stamps) stamp sets

It's a Guy Thing paper pack

New England Ivy, Cocoa, Desert Sand, Olive, and Barn Red inks

Olive and Cocoa markers

Antique Copper brads

Imagine "Supporting Cast" sketch

Happy anniversary!

Today Logan and I are celebrating our 14th anniversary! Where did the time go? I must have been a mere child when I met him 18 years ago. It's been a lot of love and laughs (and of course a few required bumps in the road), but we've made it this far. I look forward to many happy returns of the day. (I must love you, honey!)



Feeling a little deja vu? The card I made for him is very similar to the one I made for my parents, but I used a different "Color Me Monday" combo. The Creme Brulee looks more peach here than it does IRL. Imagine the creamy Creme Brulee from the sample palette instead, okay?

Close To My Heart supplies:
Playful Flourishes, Say It In Style, Free Spirit, and Memory Labels stamp sets
Juniper, Creme Brulee, and Cocoa inks

Brown Bag marker
Colonial White card stock, Perfect Day paper pack
Antique Copper Bigger Brad
Creme Brulee Designer Ribbon Rounds
round sponge
Wishes "Circle Collection" 5"x7" sketch

So Sketchy Sunday #16, 17, AND 18

My friend Mary keeps cranking out the cutest card sketches!

Since I was way behind, I decided it was time to get all caught up. Her sketches are posted first, followed by a photo of my trio.

The first card (SSS16, on the top left) I made as a 3"x3". I just love those little suckers! They are the perfect size to attach to a gift (or just to brighten someone's day).

The second card (SSS17, my top right) is a bit of an odd size (4"x5"), but that's what I cut from my scrap of Twilight cardstock. Works for me!!!

The final card measures 8"x3.5". When Close To My Heart introduce this size, I thought this was odd, but they fit perfectly into a business envelope (and who doesn't have those lying around?). They also work well to hold a gift certificate or CASH, and who doesn't like that? :)

In case you're wondering, this trio is another sneak peek at the August stamp of the month, "It's Your Day."

I hope you have a happy day today, whatever you're doing!

All supplies from Close To My Heart:

It's Your Day stamp set (available Aug. 1-31, 2009)

Tinkerin' paper pack and Holiday Red cardstock scrap

Twilight, Clover Meadow, Sunny Yellow, Sunflower, and Holiday Red inks

red sparkles (retired)

white ricrac

Holiday Red organdy ribbon (retired)

staples

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!

My parents are celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary today! How lucky am I to have these role models, mentors, and parents? (If you find this date's blog post last year, you'll find a wedding photo of the lovely couple.) If you'd like to know more about my great parents or would like to wish them a happy anniversary yourself, click on over to the Traveling Bells. Life is definitely an adventure! They've worked hard and loved each other unconditionally to make it. Here's to many, many more!

Here's a peek at the card I made them. My color inspiration was from Jeanette Lynton's "Color Me Monday" combo.

Close To My Heart supplies:

Playful Flourishes, Say It In Style, Free Spirit, Memory Labels, and The Works alphabet stamp sets

Juniper, Bamboo, and Desert Sand inks

Vanilla Cream card stock, Desert Sand Fleurs des Jardins paper (retired), Perfect Day paper pack, Bamboo textured cardstock

Antique Copper Bigger Brad

Colonial White twill

round sponge

Wishes "Circle Collection" 5"x7" sketch

Happy birthday, America!

God bless America!

As you celebrate the Fourth of July today, take time to remember the principles on which our great country was founded and the men and women who have fought for our freedom. Freedom is not free!

We enjoyed the local fireworks show in town last night and are headed to a cookout at my sister's. The party is normally here so this year's move will be a nice change. Celebrate your independence!

Supplies (Don't forget to decorate the inside of your card, too!):

July Word Puzzle stamp set

Colonial White and Holiday Red cardstock

Holiday Red and Outdoor Denim ink

Versamark ink, white embossing powder, and heat tool

Outdoor Denim twill, Colonial White crocheted ribbon, and red sparkle (retired)

Wishes "All Stacked Up" sketch (3"x6" card)

American Girl

...dolls, that is! A few Christmases ago, Grammie and Grumps surprised the girls with their very own American Girl Dolls (Felicity and Nellie). Talk about some happy girls!!! Since then, their other grandma has added to their collection with some eBay specials. Macey is now the proud owner of an "American Boy" doll too.

One Saturday before school got out, the girls decided to set up a photo shoot with their dolls. Their imaginations astound me! Check out the backdrops, poses, etc.

Notice William "surfing" on one of my Longaberger basket lids, then later "diving" into the "water."

He even found a lovely "mermaid" (aka Nellie in a Build-A-Bear costume).

Finally, here they all are, along with MY, um, antique Apricot Blossom (Strawberry Shortcake doll from my childhood), one of their Cabbage Patch kids, and a porcelain doll.

Their next set up was a trip to the farm.

The grand finale is from Sleeping Beauty (Ansley's favorite movie as a little girl!): Prince William waking Sleeping Nellie with a kiss, and the fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merriwether looking along with two "peasant" girls.

I love being the mom of two girls. Please let them stay little a little longer!!!

July Stamp of the Month Swap Art

Did you enjoy yesterday's stamp of the month blog hop? I sure did!

I am so amazed by all the talented artists in the papercrafting world!!!

Speaking of talented artists, here are my monthly swappers' submissions. We all used the Moon Doggie paper pack (colors are Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Garden Green, and Desert Sand). Aren't these ladies wonderful?!? The first card, by Debra Van Patten, is a 5"x7" based on the "Medallion" sketch from Wishes. She used the "puddle pad" technique on the focal image. Drop reinkers onto felt to create your own rainbow pad. Cool!

The second card is a 6"x6", also from Wishes, called "Keep it Level," created by Katy Donaldson. Don't you love her attention to detail inside and out?

Kelly Hammonds created this 12"x12" layout (based on the Cherish "Pleasing Paradigm" sketch). I love how she used the stamped images as photo corners. So clever! She also used the color ready alphabets for her lettering, and she was able to color them with Honey ink to match her layout.

Laura Bohall made these two great cards.

Misty Blankenship combined multipe images on this gorgeous tropical card. Isn't it amazing how her colors are so different from the other combos, yet they all come from the same collection? I love the versatility and variety Close To My Heart offers.

Melinda Everitt created this beautiful bookmark. Wouldn't this make a great gift for a special bookworm?

As always, thanks for stopping by!

July Stamp of the Month BLOG HOP

Welcome to another Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month BLOG HOP! (If you came from Nona's site, you're hopping right along. If you want to start at the beginning, go to Jena's site, or just keep hopping from here- link below).

The "You've Got Flair" stamp of the month features seven lacy, Victorian outline images plus the title sentiment. I used the Moon Doggie paper pack for both of my cards. The first one follows the Wishes "Geometric" sketch. I used my Cranberry and Bamboo markers and my waterbrush with Indian Corn Blue ink to color in the focal image. There's a Cranberry brad in the very center. Then I went back w/the Cranberry marker and colored in a few tiny shapes on the background.

When I looked closely at this set, I started to see snowflakes. What do you think? Christmas in July? This sentiment comes from the Holiday Joy stamp set. I also used the Moon Doggie papers, but it doesn't look the least bit tropical now. Can you see the tiny sparkle on the dark snowflake? The scan does not do it justice.

Thanks for stopping by. Now hop on over to see what Misty has up her sleeve! Also, come back here tomorrow to see what my talented swappers created this month with "You've Got Flair," the July stamp of the month. If you don't already have a consultant and would like to get this stamp set for yourself, visit my CTMH website. Thanks!

Also, if you've ever thought about getting your own discount on CTMH products, think about signing up as a consultant this month. There's a fab "signing bonus" this month. More details to come...

Finally, here is a list of all the bloggers in this hop, and in case you're finding us later in the month or year, these links should take you directly to their July stamp of the month posts.

Jena Devries
Wendy Kessler
Sherry Thompson
Dawn Heuft
Brae Montgomery
Melissa Laverty
Karen Norman
Deb Young
Adeline E Brill
Tammy Lea Pinchard
Jen Rubio
Cibele Glazer
Laurie R Newton
Kami Welter
Helen Onulak
Sarita Schraeder
Chris Shouse
Paige Dolecki
Dawn Ross
Jamia Bankhead
Nona Davenport
Haley Dyer
Misty Jackson
Jennifer Patrick
Carla Ironside
Jody Gustafson
Heather Painchaud
Julia Menssen
Lori Miller
Pamela O'Connor
Reba Poquette
Anne Beck
Shallon Pelletier
Caren Goldsein
Jan Moxey
Kristie Horness-Herdener
Alanna Moses
Leslie Markland
Barbara Otten
Traci Godbee
Jill Lucas
Amy McVey
Laurie Levnik