MFT Stamp Challenge

Hello! Happy Friday!
This week started out a bit bumpy so I really didn't have any time to play with paper and stamps. It was my husband's 40th birthday and on his actual birthday he was rushing back to the car to go out to lunch with me and the kids and he hopped over a hedge....and well....let's just say his ankles aren't in their 30s anymore :( We ended up in the emergency room that night for x-rays and thankfully it is not broken. (Although if you saw the pictures on FB, you would bet that it was.)

Anyway, after all that fun, he is back to work on crutches and life goes on. I needed a little jump start to my creativity so I jumped on this week's My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge- MFTWSC32: Here is my card using the sketch:

I paired the MFT Pure Innocence image, Are We There Yet? with some Echo Park Paper- Splash! (Love it!)

Thought this would be a fun combination for the last few weeks of summer :( (Sniff, sniff!) I colored the image with Copics and paper pieced the outfit. I layered her over the popped up sun (Echo Park, Splash!) and added a sticker sentiment over the sun (Random Thoughts by Bo-Bunny Press). I cut different layers of patterned paper for the sketch and added some twine (The Twinery) around the bottom of the card.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Back from Vacation and a.....CARD!

Hello! I just got back from a two week vacation at the beach. We had so much fun--For the second week, all my siblings rented houses in the same few blocks and we went to the beach and boardwalk together every day. We all were together with my parents on my dad's 70th birthday. Now we are back home and trying to unpack (again!) and get back to our new life here.

I created this card for my dad's 70th birthday from all of his children. We gave him a gift certificate for custom golf clubs so I created a golf club card: I created the golf bag and clubs by looking at pictures and just designing my own. I added some stitching to make the bag look more realistic. The "70" was cut from Cuttlebug letters. I stamped the background of the card using a sentiment from Our Craft Lounge - Golfin Gramps. It says "Have a Par-fect day!" hee! (I created my dad's birthday card last year using this set too---a definite fav for my golf lovin dad!)

Thanks for stopping by today! Off to do lots a laundry :)

New Craft Room

Hello (Again!). Wow...two posts in one week :) I couldn't stand walking through the front door and looking into this room and seeing boxes everywhere. So......I spent half of the day on Tuesday and unpacked my new craft space. I shared one picture on facebook and someone requested that I share the rest of the room.....So here it is----!!

I am so excited to have my very own space for my scrappy stuff. Previously, our guest room was my craft room so I had a bed in there and lots of other stuff. But...now I have this adorable cute little room....all my own. I am so lucky!! It may be small but it is perfect for me (and my sidekick Lauren, who loves it just as much as I do!)

This is the room: As you walk into the room, the back wall houses two tall black drawer shelves which hold embellishments of all sorts, ribbons, dies, and a drawer of cards. The black cabinet with wicker baskets hold my machines (Wizard, Cuttlebug, plates and some Cricut software.) The baskets hold stamps....many here are various companies but if I had enough I used a basket for each company (The Cat's Pajamas, Our Craft Lounge, Unity Stamp Co., Stampendous, etc.) On top is a magnetic board that holds brads and other small items. I have my very first magazine cover framed on the left side and a board that I can display some of the precious cards from my stamping friends.

This picture shows the wall to the left as you walk in. This cabinet holds my embellishment box on top. The long white box holds spools of ribbons and the two large white bins on the bottom hold my My Favorite Things stamps. The drawers hold envelopes, adhesive runners and refills. The three stacking wicker basket shelf holds Gina K Designs stamps (some of them) and punches (which will eventually be housed on railings on the wall when I get around to it.)

And this is the right hand wall when you walk in. This side has my desk --which has some amazing storage and holds all of my ink pads on top or in a drawer and all my markers, paints, inks, etc. There is a drawer of Gina K Design stamps, a drawer of paper pads, a drawer full of adhesives and a drawer full of other fun embellishment stuff!

I keep my Cricut Expression on the side table---out so I will use it. My sewing machine is on a lift in the center of the desk so I just pop it up when I want to use it. The white tower to the right holds most of my cardstock and I have two tall containers that house all my favorite designer paper.

Well....that is it. Thanks for letting me share my crafty space.

Thanks for stopping by!

Testing....1, 2, 3!

Hi there. Just wanted to pop in and see if this dusty blog still worked :)

We are getting all settled in our new Pittsburgh home. It has been a busy two months and we are still busily trying to get some home improvements done and walls painted WHILE still taking lots of breaks to enjoy the summer.

There is one thing I am certain of----I definitely miss my creative time. I am counting the days when I have everything else done on my "must-do" list and then I can get to work setting up my office. Right now it is just a room with a desk and about 50 boxes. I keep the door shut so I am not tempted to run in there before I get everything else settled.

I just wanted to check in and let you all know we are doing well and enjoying summer. I hope you are all having a great summer. I miss my crafty friends but I will be back soon! I have so many fun ideas floating around in my head..........but, until then....thanks for stopping by and for all the sweet comments and emails. Hugs!

A Fond Farewell....

It is time....

Time to say goodbye (at least for awhile).
My family is gearing up for our LAST move...we will be all packed and ready to go by the end of the month and so I need to put the craft stuff away and close down the blog for awhile. There are so many emotions right now.....

I *think* I will be back. I cannot imagine my life without making some sort of paper crafting project. But...I have no idea in what capacity that will be yet.
The next few months will give me the time to get situated, spend time with my family and get the kids settled in their new home and life. It will also give me time to reflect on where I want this to go...if anywhere.

Right now, I am excited about the lack of pressure and deadlines. I am excited to have nothing I HAVE to do. I am excited to be removed from the cattiness that has marred some of the joy I once felt to just create.

I am also excited about THIS----->
Three years ago my first card was published. I will NEVER forget the joy and sense of accomplishment I felt when getting that email while on vacation.

This month the new Card Creations Magazine goes on sale and I am DELIGHTED that one of my cards was chosen for the cover. It is the "Missing You" map card on the bottom right. I have only had one other card on a magazine cover before and it was itty bitty so this is special. I am sure I will frame it. Yep.......this is the perfect place to stop and take a breath.....

Thank you so much for all of your support and kindness over the years. I hope to be back.....if/when the time is right.

xo