Under the Weather.....FMS243

A short but fierce thunderstorm rolled through this week downing trees and branches in our neighborhood.  A crew came by yesterday to get a huge branch out of the wires across the street.  So the big guy and I headed outside to watch as the bucket truck lifted a guy with a chainsaw up among the leaves.  And the conversation went like this:

BG:  He shouldn't be cutting at that angle.  The branch is going to buck and smack right into him.

Me:  They are professionals....they know what they are doing.

BG:  I'm telling you that branch is going to come right back at him.

Me:  Why don't you go over there and tell him?

BG:  They are professionals.....they know what they are doing.

Me:  That's right!

And then sure enough that branch bucked and headed right back at the guy in the bucket - who fortunately had great reflexes and escaped injury.

BG:  I told you.......

Why do I ever doubt him?

This week's events must have inspired my card - fortunately I don't have to send it to the chain saw guy!  The cute umbrella from Weather Together fit nicely with Amy's terrific sketch this week.  And that rainy background from By The Shore DSP was perfect!  (Still loving the new colors Sweet Sugarplum and Dapper Denim.) The sentiment is from Rain or Shine by Sunny Studio.

And I have no idea what this is but the Big Guy was hauling it around today to paint the camp in preparation for our Fourth of July Celebration at the lake!  I wisely offered no advice......

Peachy Keen......PP301

Peekaboo Peach and Sweet Sugarplum are delightful together in a very retro sort of way. I have visions of bobby sox, saddle shoes and pony tails......and maybe a few visions of sugarplums too......

Joanne has wonderful sketch for us this week at the Paper Players!  I used the peaches from the new Fresh Fruit set along with a sentiment from a retired set called Peachy Keen.

News Flash........PPA306

News Flash: I just love splashes of color!

Mary Fish designed our wonderful sketch this week at Pals Paper Arts! I used the new hostess set Pun Intended along with Playful Patterns DSP.....featuring new colors:  Emerald Envy, Peekaboo Peach and Sweet Sugarplum!  

                                                         

Wake Up Call! FMS242

The other morning I walked out on the porch and the big guy was backing the boat trailer into the yard between the garage and the swing set.  Now if Trailer Backing was an Olympic sport he would be a gold medalist. But I see him start to pull forward to adjust his line and he yells out the window at me:

Big Guy:   I am going to hit the swing set -  I need to pull forward.

Me:  Why?  You aren't even close to it.

BG:  If I keep going I will be!

Me:  Tons of room!

BG:  Are you sure?  Can you see it from where you are?

Me:  Of course I can - you are fine - back it in!

The next thing I hear is a crack followed by #$@%

So who knew that the tail lights on that trailer stick out past the sides?!?!?!?  Obviously he did........

I should have stayed inside like this little kitty and had a few more sips of caffeine!

I love Narelle's sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Hope you play along!

I am also linking my card up to the fabulous Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

Stamp Sets:  Newton Loves Coffee by Newton's Nook, Awesomely Artistic by SU!

Stamp Review Crew: Flower Shop

The Stamp Review crew is featuring the set Flower Shop today.  I took two of the floral designs and stamped them randomly on a sheet of paper in Versa mark and then embossed them in white.  I brushed Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Soft Sky and Daffodil Delight over the flowered sheet and then wiped off the excess ink.  I ended up with two totally different looking cards!  Then it was a matter of finding a sentiment to fit into an open space on the panel!  A few sequins for sparkle and I was done!

I am sure the rest of the Stamp Review Crew have some wonderful ideas to share with you using this set. You are right on track if you visited Martha Inchley before me!  Now head on over to Artisan Sue Plote's blog to see what wonderful things she has in store!

Oh Happy Day for the Paper Players! PP300, CTS#177

Congrats to the Paper Players Challenge for reaching the 300 milestone! A happy day for sure! I am honored to be a guest designer this year with this amazing group of ladies. Have to admit I felt a bit like a graffitti artist when I decorated my "brick wall" with bright colors, balloons and fun shapes in honor of the celebration!

Our challenge this week is a Clean and Simple theme challenge from Jaydee: Celebration!  To celebrate our 300th challenge we are giving away blog candy - and lots of it!  The team has assembled ten grab bags full of stamping goodness!  To be eligible to win one you need to play along with our challenge this week.  You can play as many times as you like, but each needs to be a new project - no back linking please!  See the Paper Players blog for our other challenge rules.  Winners will be selected from all PP300 challenge participants using random.org and will be posted on Saturday June 25th.

I used Leigh Penner's fun sketch at CAS(E) this sketch! for my design.

                                                    

Stamps Sets:  Balloon Celebration, Paper Pumpkin, Oh Happy Day by Avery Elle

Colors:  Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry, Mint Macaron, Melon Mambo

Sailing By......FMS241

That Swirly Bird set is amazing......first I made flowers, then I made kites and today I made waves and a sailboat!  And I have yet to make a bird!  I actually used the Swirly Bird diecut to make a mask and then I sponged Tumbled Glass and a bit of Stormy Sky distress inks on the bottom of my card. When I peeled up the mask those lovely white waves appeared!  I would be much happier with this card if the sentiment said: "It's a buoy!"  Yes I like puns!

I had to do something rather inky because today's sketch from FMS was designed by Karren Johnson. Her inky backgrounds are always fabulous!  So I hope you get inky too this week and join us at Freshly Made Sketches!


                                                   

Celebrate Babies! PP299, CTS#176

A friend of mine expects a grandchild between Flag Day and the Fourth of July so I decided to use LeAnne's Patriotic Color Scheme for a baby card.  Grandchildren - and granddogs - are always a reason to celebrate!  Looks like one of mine has already started to celebrate.....yep that little ADK is a party animal.........

Join us this week at the Paper Players~!

I was inspired by the sweet sketch at Cas(e) this Sketch.

Stamps Sets:  Fabulous Four, Something for Baby, Tin of Cards, A Little Something

Getting Well Soon - PPA304, GDP#039

Think I'll send this card to myself as I am battling a head cold.....runny nose, watery eyes, endless sneezing.....yep the real deal.  I was really down for the count yesterday but fortunately Hey Hey was home to entertain my little germ carrier - who happened to have a cold last week!  So I sat wrapped up by the fire and was entertained all afternoon watching their wild games of Slap Jack, Matchbox car races and wrestling matches.  During a break for refreshments Miss E brought me a snack and asked "Amma are you just old or are you old old like Hey Hey?"

Ouch!  Guess I'll go with just old........

Here's that old old Hey Hey somehow managing to coach Emma's soccer team made up of three and four year olds! 

Hope you play along with our sketch at Pals Paper Arts this week!  I used Swirly Bird to create the fun kites using Pear Pizzazz, Sweet Sugarplum and Dapper Denim inks.  The DSP is Fruit Stand and the sentiment from Delightful Dozen.

Global Design Project has a Get Well Theme this week.

Life is Sweet - FMS240

I received my second shipment of Stampin' Up! products from the brand new catalog!  I participated in a paper share and got a sample of all the new Designer Series Paper! Some mighty pretty papers!  I love the colors used on the Fruit and Flowers DSP shown here.  Watercolor Wonder is featured on the paper and is also the color of the strawberry- which is from a very old retired set called Fruit & Flowers.  I bet you have sets you just can't part with too!

Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches and put your own spin on Jen Brum's layered design!  I used the sentiment from Sunny Studio's Fresh & Fruity as the fourth layer of the sketch.

Stamp Review Crew: Papillon Potpourri

Welcome to the Stamp Review Crew's Blog Hop!  Today we are featuring Papillon Potpourri - a beautiful set of butterflies! I embossed my butterflies in white on vellum before before letting them land on that beautiful floral DSP Botanical Blooms!  A simple sentiment from Watercolor Wishes finished the card.  I liked the stark simplicity of this so I ended up removing some embellishments.  It's always fun to pile them on but in the end just a few works best for me!

However there are some people I know who feel you can never have too many embellishments........

You are on track if you arrived here from the blog of my very talented friend Heidi Baks.  Next up is Nikki Spencer who has something wonderful in store!

My design was inspired by the sketch this week at Global Design Project.

Grandpa Pal - PP298, MOJO450

Miss E has her own names for all of her grandparents.  I love that she still calls us Amma and Hey Hey.  Her other grandfather is named Hal and he has a white mustache.  I thought this card would be perfect for her to give him on Father's Day. She will be adding her own personal touches - and more stamping I am sure - to the inside. And what does she call him?  Grandpa Pal of course! 

Join us this week at The Paper Players and make a card for that guy in your life!

My design was inspired by the tall and skinny sketch this week at Mojo Monday.  The card measures 3 1/2 by 5 1/2.

                                       

Celebrations - FMS239

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Looks like the artist is taking a break and tacked a Happy Birthday sign over his masterpiece before heading out to join the celebration!  I used SU's new set Painter's Palette to create my easel scene. Some wonky stitched edges just add to the party atmosphere! 

Our Memorial Day weekend was spent celebrating as well and remembering those who sacrificed for our country.  The weather was glorious and we spent three days at the lake enjoying it.  We also managed to attend two parades, visit two cemeteries and barbecue for the first time this season! 

Cindy Hall has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!