NO ELectricity........FMS252

And the Christmas card parade continues~!  I think I overindulged on my Christmas set buying this year - there were so many great ones to chose from in the new Holiday Catalog!

I may have overindulged the other night as well......I broke my "hot fudge sundaes only when it is 90 degrees" rule.  We lost power for about three hours.  It was a perfect summer evening and the perfect time to have ice cream by candlelight on the porch and chat with the neighbors.  I have to admit it was great to unplug for a while - I am going to try to do it more often!  And having NO ELectricity just may have been inspiration for my card :)

Karren Johnson - that inkmaster friend of mine from New Zealand -  has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I used the new SU! set Christmas Pines on my card.

Dapper Denim.......PP310

For someone who is not really ready to make Christmas cards I seem to be making them anyway!  I couldn't resist the Greetings from Santa bundle with this fabulous Santa die cut from Stampin' Up!  A version of this just may become the card I make 50 of this year for the holidays - I love it with all sorts of colors and textures behind the Santa face. This version is backed by Dapper Denim with a touch of red and gold.

But in between cards I am still enjoying this Dapper Denim view........time to store up the sunshine as fall will be here before we know it!

My oh so talented stamping buddy Nance Leedy has a great sketch for us this week at the Paper Players!

Joyful.......FMS251

Bits of silver, slivers of red foil and a sprig of mistletoe all come together to say Merry Christmas!  Even though I am sneaking in some holiday cards I am not really in the Christmas spirit yet......lots of beachcombing to do still.....

My talented friend Cindy Hall has a great layered sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches! I used the new Banners for Christmas set along with Candy Cane Lane DSP.

Sweet Friends......PP309

Remember the old days before caller ID and telemarketers? When the phone rang a real person would be there on the line. Because of telemarketers I now rely on caller ID before answering. My latest strategy for dealing with them is to pick up the phone and hang it right back up.  Recently we were plagued with calls that came up AFL-CIO on the ID.  Since it is an election year I thought the labor union was calling to ask support for certain candidates.  For almost two weeks the calls were relentless but I was determined to "win"  - sometimes I wouldn't hang up and would just leave the phone on the desk.....that is my "you waste my time I'll waste yours" move!

And now the rest of the story:  

Our friend and next door neighbor of 40 years moved out of state two years ago to be near family. She recently passed away and her family hosted a brunch back here to celebrate her life.  Another neighbor told us that we were invited but her son couldn't reach us so she passed on the message. I thought that was odd but shrugged it off.  So the Big Guy and I go to the brunch and were greeted by her son who apologized for not inviting us personally........even though he called once or twice a day from work........"The calls just wouldn't go through - it seemed like you were hanging up on me or I would just get dead air."

And then I had to ask......"Where do you work now Bob?"

And then he answered......."For the AFL-CIO."

Sandy has a sweet CAS challenge for us this week at the Paper Players!  I used Fresh and Fruity by Sunny Studio, Happy Summer from Lawn Fawn, Banners for You and Fruit Stand DSP from SU!

Making A List.......PPA314

What I have learned about the holidays is that it is never too early to start getting ready!  So I am trying to sneak in a few Christmas cards now and then.This one uses some new SU products:  Christmas Pines, Greetings from Santa and Candy Cane Lane Designer Paper.  

But in the meantime Emma and her friend are digging for treasure at a pirate themed birthday party......

This book is a fun read especially if you have some girl pirates at your house.......

Have fun with Amy's sketch this week at Pals Paper Arts!

                                                 

A Night Out.......FMS250

Even though I made a Halloween card this week we are still enjoying summer around here.  We went to a Toby Keith concert over the weekend and the fun started as soon as we parked the car.  Right in front of us was a young guy leaning against his car with his arm around his girlfriend, sipping a beer and just enjoying the warm summer night.  Then out of nowhere a white haired old lady shows up screaming "Oh my God you have my name on your car!  And it's a Cadillac - I learned to drive in my mother's old Caddy!  What a coincidence!  I have to take a picture - do you mind if I take a picture?  Are you Dutch?"

The poor guy was speechless and mumbled something like......sure sure go ahead ...... and the girfriend just pulled out her phone and started texting......can't imagine what she was saying?!?!

So here's the picture of the old lady who was delighted to see her last name on a license plate!  I know I have been Linda Callahan for over 40 years but in my mind I am always still Linda Bierman from Tribes Hill, NY.......

Cecile our wonderful guest designer from France has a terrific sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I enjoyed using two new SU sets - Halloween Scares and Spooky Fun (with framelits).

Stamp Review Crew: Jar of Love

The Stamp Review Crew is featuring Jar of Love today!  The possibilities with that set and its matching framelits are just endless.  I kept it simple with a fresh bouquet of summer flowers.  

The heat wave continues here in the Northeast in spite of some wild thunderstorms. We spent the day on the porch at camp yesterday just watching the thunderstorms roll in across the lake.  It was crazy!  Just a couple of photos taken by neighbors........

This was at a nearby marina.....the funnel formed but luckily went back up into the clouds quickly! (photo C. Strauser)

One of those wild looking shelf clouds rolling in.....

(photo S. Ogden)

Hoping your day has been calmer and you are enjoying the hop.

You are on track if you just came from my good friend Dawn Tidd 's blog. Her sweet tag is delightful! Next up is a visit to Valerie Moody's site. She always has wonderful projects to share!

I was inspired by the fun sketch this week at Cas(e) this Sketch!

Back to School Back Story....PP308

So while I was working on this card my partner in crime - Miss Emma - was busily working away on her side of my desk.  I just cut/stamp two of everything now and slide things over in her direction and she assembles as she sees fit.  I thought for sure she would be excited to color the little bear but nope that is not what caught her eye.

I slid this piece of paper over to her as I  dropped the outer frame of it into the trash.....

She looked into the wastebasket and gasped "No No Amma..........don't throw away the stage!"

She fished the scrap out of the basket and this is what she created......

She drew a picture of her mom and dad dancing and then pasted the "stage with hanging lights" over the top of it.  Yes the back of that lined paper is covered with bright polka dots! I love how she saw something so unexpected - I had never looked at it that way before! 

I love  my friend Claire's Back to School Color Challenge this week at the Paper Players!


                                  

Stamp Set:  Teacher's Pet by Sugar Pea
Die Cuts: Notebook Journal Card by Sugar Pea, Alphabet by Lil' Inkers
Paper: SU

Celebrate with Cake! FMS249

Any kind of celebration calls for cake in my world......why just wait for birthdays?!?!?  My daughter and I went to a Dierks Bentley concert over the weekend at a beautiful amphitheater on Onondaga Lake.  It was a terrific show and we had so much fun.  During one of Dierks' romantic songs the guy in front of us dropped to his knee and proposed to his girlfriend.......such fun.....and so much cheering!  And then I thought....wow we need a cake........  :)

My talented friend Kim Singdahlsen has a cool layered ;) sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches - have fun with it!  I used Birthday Banners and Pop of Pink DSP for my card.

You Light Up My Life......PP307

The Big Guy and I ended up with an unexpected free day this week - a very rare occurence! Watching Emma, keeping my mother on track and dog sitting up to five pups on any given day keep us very busy during the week.  So when I returned from my early morning walk I told him I had made new plans for the day - 

1 - I would nap after breakfast.

2 - I would then make a card.

3 - I would have lunch on the porch and read the afternoon away.

And he responded with - "They are building a new playground at a neighboring elementary school.  I'm going there to help."

Wow I am such a loser!  But luckily I don't dwell on such things for long.  When he left I immediately put my plans into action and am delighted to report I accomplished all my goals - which included this card for the Paper Players!

Miss E - who does light up my life - had an adventurous day exploring the outdoors. Here she is waving to her Dad as he zips by!

I used Pun Intended for Joanne's fun challenge!  I found the perfect DSP in my stash - it looks so industrial with a path of light across it!

This card is also for my good friend Jen Timko's Dare to Get Dirty Challenge at Splitcoast.  Lots of fabulousness going on there this week!

Swirly Birds.....PPA312

I am delighted to be the featured designer at Pals Paper Arts this week!  Seven years ago this month I designed my first card for PPA.  (You can see that very first card here.)  I was so excited to be part of a design team and I am still excited to be part of this team! I have been lucky to work with some amazing artists! 

This week I used Swirly Bird to create my baby card along with Gorgeous Grunge and a sentiment from Made With Love.  I love A Little Foxy DSP for the background!

And Miss E loved all the birds swirling around her in the bird cage at Animal Land!

I hope you join us this week at Pals Paper Arts!  Put your own spin on the sketch - I am excited to visit your gallery and see what you create!

The Dare to Get Dirty Challenges are still going on at Splitcoast.  This card works for Lydia Fiedler's challenge. Lots of inspiration over there!

A Tall Tale.....FMS248

I love these sweet giraffe die cuts and I am thinking I subconsciously designed my sketch so I could use them again!  They are perfect for a wedding or anniversary card!  I used Serene Scenery DSP for them as well as the background along with images from Birthday Banners and Timeless Textures.

Miss Emma toured Animal Land this past week and met one of these fabulous creatures!

 I am excited to be hosting this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  I have some amazingly talented teammates who have made my sketch look terrific with their wonderful cards!

Hope you get a chance to play along - I'd love to see what you create!

An exciting week of fun and challenges is also happening right now at Splitcoast Stampers!  It is Dare to Get Dirty Challenge Week 2016!  This card was also made for Dina Kowal's challenge.  Check out the challenges and galleries!