Graduation Cards

This year there are 4 other kids besides my daughter that I know that are graduating.  So, as I was sitting here tonight anxious for my parents to arrive tomorrow from Colorado, I decided to make graduation cards to pass the time.  I used a sketch from Taylored Expressions...I think I posted a card using this sketch before...I like it!

I was wanting to try out my new JustRight Stampers - that's the words on the round part.  Very nifty little gadget!  I would like to get more of these!  I punched out the circle and used the old fashioned compass and scissors to cut the black circle.  Another thing on my wishlist: Nestabilities circles and scalloped circles!!!  No guessing games to right size or messed up edges then!!!

Brianna is graduating on Tuesday, and we are having her party on Monday (Memorial Day) afternoon.  Getting a little nervous about that cuz I decided to make the food myself instead of catering.  WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!  Actually, it will save us a penny or two, I believe....one must do what one must!  I'm sure it will all be fine.  After all, Mom will be here, along with lots of other helpers, to help me keep my sanity!  I am praying for nice weather as I'm not sure how many people my little house can handle...  Either way, it will be an exciting and memorable weekend/week!!!  I'm so proud of my girl!  :)

Today's Rummage Finds

My daughter, who is graduating from high school the end of this month, is moving toMarshfield this summer to start college classes this fall.  So today we went to a village-wide rummage sale in Wrightstown with my friend, Suzanne.  We had a SUPER time!!!!  I was afraid we were going to be rained on all day, but  God blessed us with a perfect day for sale-ing!  YEAH!!!!  

WOW!!! Did we ever find the deals!!!  I think the only major thing Brianna needs now is chairs for her FREE kitchen table...THAT'S RIGHT ~ FREE!!!!  Can't beat that!  We stumbled across a lady that was cleaning out her garage (we thought she was having a sale) earlier today, and when we passed by her house later, she had the table (along with another FABULOUS find that I will be posting later!) at the end of her drive way with a "FREE" sign on it.  We struggled for awhile trying to figure out how to get it in the van...but eventually, thanks to the advise of our pastor, who is also Brianna's boyfriends dad, we took the legs off the table and everything worked fine!  You should have seen our van!  Brianna had to sit with us in the front it was so full!

I did manage to find a few goodies myself, and only spent less than $20!  COOL!  Here's some of what I got:

The cherry set is for my other daughter ~ she loves cherries!  I have needed some new curtains for our bedroom ever since I shrunk the ones hanging now (oops!) - PERFECT!  The white box will be a great addition to my "NEW" scraproom (premiering this fall, God willing!).  My friend, Kim is always looking for planters for the jungle in our office!  And I just liked the plate - hey, there's roses on it!!!  Couldn't pass it up for .75!  I also got a magazine rack, also for my scraproom, and some canning jars.

I will post a picture of my FREEBIE later.....IT IS AWESOME!!!!  Now just to figure out where I'm going to put it!  That will be the challenge!  But it's worth it!  (curious yet???)  tee hee!  :)

Mojo Monday - Mother's Day

For some reason the Mojo Monday Sketch that was sent on Monday morning was the sketch that was posted for the previous week...I thought it looked familiar!  And I didn't know until I was getting ready to link my card to their blog that I had done the wrong sketch!  oh well...there is always next month to try to win the loot!  I still had fun making the card and I really like how it turned out!

Here is the sketch:

I did our Mother's Day cards using this sketch.  Here is what I came up with:

I don't know how many pictures I took of this card, and how many different lighting variations - felt like 100's!  But I just couldn't get the colors to turn out right.  The pink cardstock is CTMH's Blush, which is a slightly brighter baby pink.  But you really can't tell from these pictures.  The closest to the true color is the top 2 pictures.  

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Shout Out To Sheetload!

I found this INCREDIBLE e-zine called "SheetLoad Of Cards" that supplies a card sketch each month with the option to make just one card, or a bunch of cards using the same sketch!  It's so cool!!!  And each month there is the opportunity to win free product by submitting your take on their sketch!  So not only do you get a really cool card (or a whole set of them!), you can get a really cool stamp set as well!  How can you lose???

Check out their current May '09 issue!  I think you will really like it!  And if you make a card(s) using their sketch, be sure to let me see it, too!  I will definitely be referencing SheetLoad when planning for card workshops!

Taylored Expressions Sketch 66 - Wisdom

I LOVE Taylored Expressions Weekly Card Sketch Challenges!!!  Last night I was in the "crafty" mood, and needed a card, so I used the latest TE sketch below:

Here is what I came up with.  I'm really happy with how this one turned out!

The butterfly punches are popped up with their wings bent to give it some depth.  I also popped up the center block:


(sorry for the "foam" view on the butterfly!)


I really like this card.  I have not done a whole lot of embossing in the past because I always got little specks all over the place.  UGH!  Then I bought one of those little powder pouches.  They help alot, but not completely.  It helps to remove the oils from the paper you're embossing on, which will limit the amount of stray specks.  Maybe after I use this technique more often, I will get better at it...I don't know if it is something that can be helped, tho.  If anyone has any ideas on how to remove those little stray specks, please share your knowledge!!!!  :)

Next on the agenda ~ Mother's Day cards!  I'm waiting until the Mojo Monday sketch comes out tomorrow to see if it's one I can work with...need to get them done tomorrow night so I can get one mailed out to Mom in Colorado!  Maybe this time I won't be late.  There is always hope!

Card Recipe:  Stamp:  CTMH Wisdom; Papers: Far East Mat Stack by DCWV, Archiver's, & stash; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; gemstones and metal dots.

Parent's Anniversary Card

Ok - I think it's safe to post the card I made for my parent's anniversary now!  They should have received it either today or yesterday...and if not....Mom, ACT SURPRISED!  :)

I bought this paper with my mom specifically in mind because one of my mom's favorite color combinations is blue and yellow.  I found the Love Birds stamp at Michael's a few weeks ago, knowing that I would be using it soon!  A bargin for $1!!!

The white circle is popped up with foam dots:

Sorry the color isn't real great...still learning how to use my new camera!  The 2 full-size shots are closest to the actual color.

Recipe:  Paper:  Close To My Heart Alpine, Twilight, Creme Brule, White; Ink: CTMH Twilight; Stamp: Michael's; Border Punch: Martha Stuart; misc embellishments