A Floral Thank You

One often needs a thank you note to send, so I decided to make one for today's blog post.

I used Altenew's Dearest Friend stamp/die set to make it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp/Die: Altenew Dearest Friend stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU River Rock CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Stickles Glitter Glue and Enamel Dots from an unknown vendor

Yappy Birthday

I'm not sure I've ever seen this theme for a challenge before... and I'm not sure why. It's a GREAT theme!

International Art & Soul Challenge

April 29 - May 12

Theme: Interactive

What is interactive? Anything than spins, wobbles, waterfalls, moves, etc.

My puppy head is on a wobble:

Isn't it fun!?!?!?

The inside of my card:

I hope you'll get moving and 

participate in the 

International Art & Soul "Interactive" Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp/Die: Stampendous stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections White and SU Cajun Craze and Early Espresso CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: ribbonFX Ribbon

Showers, Flowers... and Circles, Too

Today's card is a two-fer... it is my card for the Sweet Stampin' "Circle" Challenge and it is my card for the Challenge Your Stash April Challenge.

Each month - on the 28th - the CYS girls create and post pictures of cards using a theme chosen by one of the members. This month Sue is the host and she reminded us that April Showers Bring May Flowers and asked us to use showers and/or flowers on our cards. I did both.

I hope you'll participate in the 

Sweet Stampin' Challenge:

April 28 - May 4

Theme: Circles

(my circles are found on the Washi Tape plus three round buttons)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: My Favorite Things The Rainbow Will Come stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers; Recollections Black and White and SU Rose Red CS and DP from the Heidi Grace Sunshowers Paper Pad

Embellishments: Foof-a-La Buttons and Washi Tape from an unknown vendor
SaveSave

Thanks for Letting Me Lick the Beaters

I grew up in the era when we didn't worry about consuming a little bit of raw egg, so every time my mom baked cookies, cupcakes, and such, I would eagerly await the opportunity to lick the beaters. Yum!

Today's card brings back such fond memories! My tastebuds are even feeling a bit nostalgic.

I used a variety of Eyelet Outlet Bling, Brads and Washi plus a fun quote from The Project Bin... and some amazing designer paper, too, to create this card.

Eyelet Outlet Products used:

Bling Strip

Cooking Brads

Cupcake Brads

Mixer/Cup Brads

Washi Tape

The fun quote is from  the 

"Deer Mom" stamp set from The Project Bin

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Eyelet Outlet Products: Bling Strip, Cooking Brads, Cupcake Brads, Mixer/Cup Brads, and Washi Tape

Stamp Set: The Project Bin Deer Mom stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU Only Orange CS and Doodlebug Designs DP

Yello!

It's kind of funny, I am not a fan of most citrus fruits. I really REALLY like grapefruit (with a bit of salt on it) but I can't stand oranges and I'm really not that fond of lemons either. I do like some lime water occasionally. And Yum! I love Sonic Limeades!

Nope, for the most part, I don't enjoy citrus fruit.

BUT... BUT! I love love LOVE citrus images. They are such fun to color and cute. They make me smile!

Yello!

by The Project Bin

This is my favorite citrus'y stamp set. And even comes with a die. 

Be sure to head over to The Project Bin and check out the stamp sets. They are awesome!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp/Die Set: The Project Bin Yello! stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Cucumber Crush CS and AMuse Studio Gingham and Paper Studio Flowers & Fruits DP

Embellishments: Oriental Trading Orange and Brads from an unknown vendor

Shh! A Miracle In Progress

I love Christmas... one might say I am craZy about Christmas!

Since I'm so craZy about Christmas, I'm part of the Christmas CraZy swap group on SCS. It's a unique group. We operate on 2-month cycles. Every other month, Pansy (the  host) pairs participants and the pairs send a Christmas image and some coordinating designer paper to her partner. Then we make a Christmas card with it.

Jen is my partner this round and she send me some gorgeous papers (even some die-cut snowflakes) and the most adorable image ever. I'd not even heard of the company that makes it so I was overly delighted to get it.

Image: from Uptown Rubber Stamps, stamped on Neenah Exact Index CS with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections

Snowflake Die-cuts: Recollections

THANK YOU,  Jen!

Here's my card

(I colored the image with Copic Markers and an Amazapens Gel Pen)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


The only things of my own that I used on this card were some CS (Recollections Black and White and SU Cranberry Crisp) and a Snowflake Brad from an unknown vendor.

Personal Challenge 2018 - Week 17

This is the 17th week of my personal 50-week "States of the Union" Challenge. Each week I research one of the 50 states (in the order they attained statehood). I learn/share a variety of interesting facts about that state here on my blog and I choose one of them as my inspiration for a card.

This week's state is Ohio.

Ohio

Date of Statehood: March 1, 1803

Here are some things I learned about Ohio...

Fifty percent of the United States population lives within a 500-mile radius of Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio has the largest Amish population of any state in the nation. 

Ohio is the leading producer of greenhouse and nursery plants.

There is an alley dedicated to drummer Dave Growl in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. The largest drum sticks in the world can be found there. They measure 23 feet long and weigh a half-ton.

The first concrete street in America, which is still in use today, was poured in 1891 near the Logan County Courthouse in Bellefontaine.

Ohio’s state flag is not a rectangle like other flags—it’s a pennant design, and it’s the only state flag in the United States with that design.  It was adopted in 1902, nearly a century after Ohio was granted statehood in 1803.

Life Savers candy was invented by Clarence Crane of Garrettsville, Ohio in 1912. They were touted as a “summer candy” since they didn’t melt like chocolate. 

Ohio holds the record for the world’s largest basket, the Longaberger Company headquarters building in Newark. It’s seven stories high and 180,000 square feet. 

Ohio's William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inauguration speech in U.S. presidential history only to die one month later. It's the shortest term of anyone to hold the office.

The last U.S. President to be elected without winning Ohio was John F. Kennedy in 1960. 

Two of the most successful fast-food chains, Wendy's (Columbus) and Arby's (Boardman) were founded in Ohio. Though White Castle was founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1921, the company moved its headquarters to Columbus in 1936.

You can take tours of a house made entirely of trash, affectionately referred to as ‘House of Trash’ in Philo.

If a restaurant wants to serve horse meat in Ohio, they must display a sign that says, “Horse Meat Served Here.” 

Akron Ohio was the first place to use Police cars. 

It is illegal to fish for whales on a Sunday in Ohio… not that there’s any place to do that. Well, at least you can fish for them every other day of the week.

Women are prohibited from wearing patent leather shoes in public in Ohio. The reasoning? So that men can’t see reflections of the women’s underwear in their shoes. Obviously.

It is illegal for more than five women to live in one house in Ohio.

By state law, no one may be arrested on a Sunday or on the Fourth of July in Ohio, which is totally awesome and definitely not enforced.

It is unlawful to leave chewing gum in public places in Cleveland. That being said, for many years the patrons of Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop in Greenville have been sticking their gum outside the walls. Three of the building’s four walls are covered in gum, creating the infamous ‘Wall of Gum’.

I've decided to go with this bit of Ohio information for my card's inspiration... Cleveland is the 8th snowiest major city in the U.S. with 68.5 inches of snow annually according to The Weather Channel.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamps: Great Impressions Let It Snow and Unity Sending Warm Fuzzies stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers and a Gel AmazaPen

Papers: Recollections Kraft and 110# White and SU Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip CS

Embossing Folder: Sizzix Winter Snowflakes (3D)

Embellishment: SU Ribbon

Springtime Blossoms

I am this month's host of the Creative Card Chicks, a group on SCS. Being host means I sent a few little goodies to the other Chickies and we all create with them. I hope the Chickies had fun with the goodies!

The group's posting days are the 21st through the 23rd of the month, so this is my last chance to be on time. Best get to it!

When I sent out the goodies, spring weather was here in the mid-west. Well, that quickly changed. Some areas have been hit hard with snow and cold temperatures.

But a theme is a theme. LOL!

Here's what I told the Chickies when I sent them their goodies:

Spring has finally arrived after a COLD winter here in the Midwest, so I am loving the sights and sounds of Spring - daffodils blooming, birds chirping, etc.

Here's what's included in this month's kit:

Image/Sentiment - Your Next Stamp "Blossom" - Recollections 110# White CS - Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

DP - American Crafts "Me & You" and "True Love" - Paper Studio "Entirely Textures 2" - Paper Studio "Stocking Stuffer"

Embellishments - Paper Studio Flowers and Heart-Shaped Brad - Ribbon from my stash

The only other thing I used on my card was card stock for layering and the card base - Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Rose Red (which happens to be one of my favorite SU colors... I hate that it is retiring).

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

D-Group Bible Journaling

I was able to attend our state's Ministers' Wives "Refresh" Weekend Retreat a few weeks ago. It was a very uplifting - AMAZING - time! Our guest speaker was Kandi Gallaty. She and her husband Robby are the heart behind the Replicate 260-Day Bible Reading Plan, which is a 5-days a week plan for reading the Bible and gleaning truths from it that can be applied to our lives. There is a HEAR journaling element as well: H (Highlight a verse) E (Explain what the verse means) A (Apply what God is saying in these verses to my life) R (Respond to what I've read). It also includes a verse to memorize each week.

The groups going through this Bible reading plan are called D Groups (Discipleship Groups).

A group of pastor's wives from our association (all who were at the Refresh weekend) made the commitment to meet together for a minimum of 3 months, using this 260-Day Bible Reading Plan. The idea is it will help us to get a feel for how the plan works and to determine if it's something we want to implement in our own settings. We will take turns leading the weekly meetings and of course we will all do the Bible reading, as in the 260-Day plan.

Since the 260-Day Bible Reading Plan is only 5 days a week (which is pretty manageable), I've decided to try to add a Bible Journaling element to my own personal experience. On one of the non-reading days, I'll choose one of the week's Bible verses/passages to Bible journal.

The 4th day of reading this week was Genesis 8-9. The verse that really stuck out to me was Genesis 8:3, so that is the verse I used with my HEAR journaling.

The water steadily receded from the earth, 

and by the end of 150 days the water had decreased significantly.

Genesis 8:3 (CSB)

I can hardly imagine the patience it took for Noah to withstand the waiting. He worked many months to build that HUGE ark. He went into it with his wife and sons with their wives and all the animals. It rained constantly for 40 days and nights. AND then it still wasn't over. He had to wait and wait... and wait some more for the waters to recede.

This is my Bible Journaling page (yes, in a different Bible):

I wanted the page to look messy... so I smeared light aqua Acrylic paint onto it (using a plastic card like a credit card). The paint is thin enough and light colored so I can still read the words of the Scripture. The messiness reminds me of the mess that floods that torrential rains bring. I added some rain drops and an umbrella die, just to enhance the theme.

The reminder for me is to trust God! No matter what the weather; no matter what is happening; no matter how tough it seems or how tired I am of waiting. TRUST GOD!


Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp: Stampendous Rainy Day Changito stamped with Memento Paris Dusk Ink

Die: MFT Umbrella

Other Items: Duck Fabric Tape, Illustrated Faith Letters Master's Touch Acrylic Paint, and Recollections Black and White CS

Bee My Friend

I've been part of the Unidentified Image swap for quite some time. In fact, this is our 37th round! WOW!!! Vickie is our hostess this round and she chose an image/sentiment from the Stampin' UP! "Fairies" stamp set.

THANK YOU, Vickie! I hope you like my card!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Image/Sentiment (provided by Vickie): SU Fairies, which I colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU More Mustard CS and Pebbles Hello Spring and Recollections All Occasions DP

Embellishments: Celebrate It Ribbon and a Bee Brad from an unknown vendor

Ride On

For today's card, I created a scene... a springtime scene of bike-riding in nature. I used Eyelet Outlet brads to make the scene and sponged the background with Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks. I also used some Eyelet Outlet Washi Tape to add some design to my card/paper.

It's time to Ride On and Explore.

Eyelet Outlet Products:

Bicycle Brads

Clock Washi Tape

Compass Brad

Pine Tree Brads

Sun/Clouds Brads

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Eyelet Outlet Products: Bicycle Brads, Clock Washi Tape, Compass Brad, Pine Tree Brads, and Sun/Clouds Brads

Papers: Recollections Blue and White and SU Sahara Sand CS and DP from my scrap file

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Peeled Paint, and Stormy Sky

America the Beautiful

For today's card I used a new stamp set from The Project Bin called Red, White, Boom. This stamp set is going to be so versatile... good for all of our  patriotic, Independence Day, even military appreciation types of cards, scrapbooking, etc.

I really do LOVE this set. It makes me think of my dad... who happens to be one of the most patriotic people I know. He has modeled that trait over and over and over again for me to observe.

My dad (who is in his 80's) stood and saluted the entire procession of cars for a police officer that was  killed in the line of duty this year.

He also salutes the flag every morning as he takes it out and proudly displays it on his deck (he also says the Pledge of Allegiance when he does this) and he salutes it again each evening as he brings it in for the night.

I love you, Daddy!

I used two colors of ink and stamped my image/sentiment. I didn't mask. I wanted the fireworks to burst into the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp Set: The Project Bin Red White and Boom stamped with Memento  Lady Bug and Paris Dusk Inks

Papers: Recollections Blue, Red, and 110# White CS and DP from the DCWV Stack 8 Paper Pad

Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones and a glittery Star-Shaped Brad from an unknown vendor

Honoring My Grandpa

April 18th (the date of this month's Ready Set Go!) is an important day. It is the day that my maternal grandfather was born - 109  years ago.

Oliver Guy Fredrick Hess

April 18, 1909 - May 11, 1988

Even though he's been gone for nearly 30 years, my Grandfather's memory continues to impact my family. He was an honest man of great morals. He was a hardworking farmer (and believed in work before play). He was a man who loved his family dearly. He could play the piano by ear (but only when wearing work gloves) and he was an amazing storyteller. I can't imagine what my life would have been like without my Grandpa in it.

In honor of this pillar in my family, here is my Ready Set Go! challenge...

Choose an ancestor (it can be any of your ancestors... but maybe - just maybe - you'd like to choose the one who's birthday is closest to April 18th) and create a card that in some way reflects that person. Here are some suggestions to ponder when creating your card (in case you're stumped and need a jump start): his/her favorite color, his/her career choice, his/her favorite beverage or food, his/her heritage, a lesson he/she taught you... or something totally different.

And please be sure to tell us a little bit about the relative you chose when you share your card.

Ready? Set. Go!

I chose this gorgeous barn stamp to use for my card, since my Grandpa was a farmer. It's where his heart was, for sure. Times were rough farming in Iowa. The Depression hit them especially hard. So they relocated to Wichita, where he worked in an airplane factory for just a few years. He did not like city life, nor working in a factory, so as soon as he and my uncle were able to swing the payment, they bought a farm in Missouri and my Grandpa farmed it until his retirement years later.

The button embellishment on my card is very special!

I have my Grandma's button tin (funny how no one else wanted it so I got it). Inside are buttons that she cut off of clothing that was going into the rag pile. The Depression had taught her to be frugal, if nothing else. I have no way of knowing for sure whose shirt this button came off of, but I want to think it was my Grandpa's. If not his, then it would have been one of my two uncles.

Be sure to stop by the other two Ready Set Go blogs - Kelly's and Barb's - to see what they did with this month's theme.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp: North Coast Creations Barn stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Ranger Tim Holtz Distressed Ink (for sponging): Antique Linen, Shabby Shutters, and Stormy Sky

Papers: Recollections Black and Ivory and SU Old Olive CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Offray Crochet Thread, SU Ribbon, and a Vintage Button from Grandma's Button Tin

Puppies Make the Best Pals

Craftaholics R Us is having an ANYTHING GOES challenge so I used an adorable stamp that I received from a Facebook Friend to make this card. It is just way too cute... Nellie Snellen Lars and Lilly My Pal.

I hope you'll participate in the challenge this week!

April 18 - 24

Theme: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp: Nellie Snellen Lars and Lilly My Pal stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Die: AMuse Studio Duo Cloud sponged with Ranger Tim Holtz Distressing Stormy Sky Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU Pear Pizzaz CS and DP from the DCWV Handy Dandy Paper Pad

Embellishments: SU Ribbon and a Bone-Shaped Brad from an unknown vendor