Color Blog Hop May 31, 2017

Welcome to another hop – you should have just been visiting Joni’s site and following me is Sandy.  I cased my card today from here.  It’s simple, but has that wow factor.  I’ll add a greeting when I know what I need the card for.  I’m into my last week of school and feel like I’m in a holding pattern.

We had a particularly bad storm here this afternoon . . . I got home and had to wait in the car because of the nickle sized hail – and the swirling debris . . . just down the bank from me is a Trailer Park and I hear there was damage – I think it was really a tornado forming and by the time it got there it hit.  It was all over by the time they issued the tornado warning!  It knocked over one of my favorite trees – a dogwood my ex planted for me before we split (and that would be over 11 years ago).  I’m hoping maybe tomorrow I can either put it back up, or dig it up and replant it??? 

Color Blog Hop May 24, 2017

Summer certainly is on my mind. I have 6 days of school left and then I am taking the summer off  . . .  for the first time in four years – wow – I feel a craft room renovation coming on.  I have to admit I am really struggling to get these challenges done with all the ‘end of school’ activities  that keep coming in sequences like waves at the beach . . .  they quite simply zap my creative mojo.  There is,  however,  light at the end of the tunnel – by the next challenge I will only have 1 day of school left – woo hoo!

I needed a birthday card for my brother and this card fit the bill for our challenge as well.   I cased it from this site.   Thank you to my wonderful friend Sandy for loaning me this set while her sister visits.  I have fallen in love with it and now must purchase it!  Of course I’m speaking of High Tide.  Here is my card:

 Joni was before me and next up is Sandy.  We appreciate all of your comments.  Thanks for popping in.

Color Blog Hop May 17, 2017

Hello Hoppers – welcome  . . .  you should have arrived here from Joni’s site and following me is Sandy.  I seriously considered bailing on this challenge – I really have racked my brain trying to figure out a CURRENT shape large enough to be a card . . . what I came up with (thank you to Buffy Cooper – my upline) is a butterfly – but this is totally outside my comfort zone.

We are preparing for 90 degree weather here – and yes, last week I was bringing in my plants because of a freeze warning.  Also, we are almost finished with our State testing at school – doing a few make-ups (which take as long as testing an entire class) and are counting down the days until we can scream/sing, “School’s out for summer!”  Can’t you just hear the tune playing in your head?  Here’s my card, such as it is:

 

 

Color Blog Hop May 10, 2017

 I really can’t believe this embossing folder will no longer be available!  It was one of my “go-to” backgrounds, especially for masculine cards.

The peonies are from my great grandmother’s garden – passed down generation to generation.  I am proud that they are flourishing in my garden!  Thanks for poppin in – you should have arrived from Joni’s site and up next is Sandy.  I cased my card from here.  Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there.

Color Blog Hop May 3, 2017

Hello – you should have just seen Joni’s card for this week and after viewing mine – take a peek over at Sandy’s.  I’m not doing so well with my mojo – I really don’t like being challenged NOT to use flowers, and my Mom has passed away – another reason this card is a bit difficult to conjure up . . . but without further ado, here is my card for this challenge.  I cased it from here.

I can happily report that my daughter and I have very special plans  on Mother’s Day to go to a salt therapy sauna, then lunch at a wine place and finally I get to go pick out some flowers to plant in my garden  from a huge place in NOVA (yes, Merrifields!).  I used the punched stencil to sponge a background shadow for each butterfly . . . and in case you didn’t know . . . it’s Apple Blossom time in Winchester and these are our colors!

Color Blog Hop April 26, 2017

I’m hoping by the time you are looking at this the sun has decided it should make an appearance.  I understand we need the rain, and it does wash away the pollen . . . but do we need to start building an ark?  Thanks for stopping in – you should have just been visiting Joni and next up is Sandy [I’ll bet her bridge has been under water . . . you should see the swinging bridge she uses when that happens!]  So today we are to use another of our retiring products that we will miss.  I went with the Watercolor Wishes card kit.  I’m probably going to miss those gorgeous fonts more than the actual kit.  I cased this “alternate” card from Turtle Creations here.   I couldn’t resist including a bouquet of my lovely lilacs with my card – they have been absolutely spectacular this year . . . wish I could include the scent – and that aroma brings tears to my eyes as I always think of my mom when I smell them . . . she loved them so much!  I enjoyed my spring break . . . but now am back to work until June 5th . . . we are getting out extra early due to so few snow days!

Color Blog Hop April 19, 2017

Today I got to do one of my favorite things – I went out in the country to Sandy’s and stamped with her.  She is the best hostess and best friend!  I think we both got challenges for 2 weeks finished!  You should have just seen Joni’s blog and behind me is Sandy.  It’s another beautiful spring day and I’m on spring break to boot – ahhhh!

Our challenge for the next two weeks is to use what we will miss the most that is retiring.  I didn’t realize the framelit I used last week did not carry over – Sandy told me today and I was in disbelief – but she is right, darn it!  Sigh . . . my ratio of loosing items tops 42% this year – not good!  Oh well – I’ll slowing build up my stash again, but I’m cutting back [I say that every year].  Here is my card for this week.

Color Blog Hop April 12, 2017

Hello again, it’s time for our weekly hop – wow – where did that week go???  I am, AGAIN, trying to get a card put together at the last minute – just too busy and too tired!  I do like the way this one turned out and am glad the So Detailed Thinlet die is carrying over.  However, the Succulent Framelits Dies that the flower is made with are going away [I have to give credit to my upline, Buffy Cooper for the flower – she made it and gave it to me], and I am afraid the Falling Petals embossing folder is also retiring (correct me if I’m wrong and I’ll be a happy girl!).

Four days ago I was bringing all my plants in for a freeze warning and today it was 88 whopping hot degrees . . . my tulips lasted one whole day and then melted!  I am looking forward to Easter with all my kids and then a full week off – filled with cleaning, gardening, sewing and stamping with friends.  Many people don’t understand us ‘staycationers‘, and I do love to travel, but I have so many hobbies I’m always happy to be home . . . I consider myself lucky in that respect.  Happy spring everyone!  You should have arrived via Joni’s blog and following me is Sandy . . . be sure to check out her entry this week.  I just realized I sort of messed up on this as I did not technically use a “bundle” – sorry . . . this is all I have at this hour!

Color Blog Hop April 5, 2017

Today our challenge is to use the retiring colors – I will miss some of them – other, not so much.  It’s late – I have had a lot on my plate recently and the kids at school today were absolutely       “off the chain” – hence I’m plum beat.  AND I left doing my card until tonight, and I hate it when I do that.  I am surprised that it turned out as well as it did – I am also a bit tired of needing this type of card.  It is for my friend at school – her aunt, who was more like a sister to her, just lost her battle with cancer at only 44 years of age.  Thanks for stopping by, and I love the comments I’ve been getting recently – thanks!  You should have arrived via Joni’s and up next is Sandy.

Color Blog Hope March 29, 2017

Good day hoppers – you should have come via Joni and next on the hop is Sandy.   I would love to see the packet of glimmer paper offered in the Main Catalog.  It would be so nice to have all the colors in a handy little packet . . . and those colors are so delicious and vibrant!  SU – this is a smashing hit out of the ball park – hope you recognize a good thing and bring it back!  I’d also like to see the dsp I used . . . Falling In Love . . . continue, but I don’t recall any dsp ever carrying over.  I’m going to have to stock up on this one!  I used the Detailed Dragonfly framelits and Wild About Flowers – you can barely see the saying – wish I had used silver or pewter ep, but went w/smoky slate because it matched – too well!  In person it shows a bit better.  Live and learn.  We have 2 special retirements coming up at our school and this card will be perfect for one of them!  Isn’t it nice to be finished something early??