Seasonal Colors......FMS322

Is it too early to start thinking of chocolate bunnies, butterflies and flowers?  A girl can dream right? I am nice and cozy here by the fire as I type so I can't complain.  But the reality is we have another two months of snow. My daughter snapped this picture as she left the other night laughing because we were back from Florida and back to doing  "Fulton County laundry." If you live up north like we do I bet your laundry looks like mine.......no bunnies or flowers here.....just the Big Guy's flannel shirts...

Our wonderfully talented friend from France Cecile Ribon has a wide open sketch for us this week!  Have fun at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Sets:  Hello Easter, Bike Ride, Ribbit Ribbit (AE)

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Black, Watercolors, Copics

Paper:  Whisper White, Watercolor, Wood Textures DSP

Stamp Review Crew: Sale-a-bration

The Stamp Review Crew is featuring Sale-a-bration sets today.  The Sale-a-bration catalog is full of delights this year!  My card features my first two choices from that catalog - Party Pandas and Bubbles and Fizz DSP.  Because I have the willpower of a gnat I placed another order and have two more SAB sets on the way!  And probably by the time I finish visiting all my friends who are hopping today I will be plotting a way to get some more!

I am trying to build up a stash of birthday cards for this year and I thought a friendly pack of pandas dropping by would be welcome party guests!  

If you are hopping in order you have arrived here from the blog of our talented leader and awesome member of the Artisan team....Tanya Boyer.  If you missed her wonderful work head back there.....

Otherwise head onward to see the amazing work of Bronwyn Eastley.

 I used the sketch from Cas(e) this Sketch for my design.

Stamp Set: Party Pandas

Paper:  Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist Bubbles and Fizz DSP

Ink: Basic Black, Bermuda Bay

Accents:  Glitter and Clear Epoxy Shapes

Handwritten Birthday.....FMS321

This birthday card is headed all the way to Alaska next week!  I can remember mailing a letter for a nickel but it is still amazing to be able to buy an "airline ticket" for this card to travel over 3000 miles for only 50 cents!  And it is also amazing that even in a world of instant messaging most people still love to get handwritten cards in the mail.  I do and I especially love the handwritten part!  

Jen Brum my friend who lives even farther north than I do has a wonderful sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Hope you join us!

Stamp Sets:  Birthday Wishes for You, Bird Banter

Ink: Black, Rich Razzleberry Blends, Copics

Paper:  Whisper White, Petal Passion DSP

You're Welcome - CTS255

Bad News:  It was cold in Florida last week!

Good News: Walking around  Disney World in jeans and sweatshirts is actually far better than walking around in 90 degree heat!  

Bad News:  We are home and it is a cold freezing rain kind of day.

Good News:  My Stampin' Up! order arrived today!

Bad news:  I missed a friend's birthday while we were gone.

Good News:  The new set Birthday Wit helped me out.......and the inside sentiment says "You're Welcome!"  Funny stuff!

And as for our Disney Days it was all good news......Emma loved meeting all the characters she possibly could.....

I used the sketch from Cas(e) this Sketch this week along with the set Birthday Wit and Painted With Love Specialty Paper.

Fusion: Coffee and A Book

Oh yes this card depicts my idea of a good time......reading is one of my favorite ways to get through cold wintry days!  Another great way to spend a few winter days is a week in Florida......that's where I am as we speak......just hanging out in the sunshine with Miss Emma, her folks and a mouse.....

Fusion has a great challenge this week!  I used both the picture and the sketch!  Hope you join us!

Stamp Set: Our Story (MFT)

Ink: Black, Copics

Smitten.......FMS320

When Valentine's Day rolls around here in the northeast it is still midwinter so Smitten Mittens is a perfect set to use for a Valentine!  The mittens send a warm cozy wish for Valentine's Day!

And speaking of warm and cozy........

Oh that Benny and Coop look so angelic but they are a handful!

Kim's fun sketch has us seeing double this week!  Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamps:  Smitten Mittens

Ink:  Real Red, Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Tutti Frutti DSP

Punny Valentine

The Punny Valentine Challenge at The Paper Players this week makes me smile so I decided to get a head start on some Valentines.  Remember when we had to memorize this sentence to learn the planets?

My very educated mother just served us nine pickles.

And I just can't seem to throw Pluto out of the group!

I used the sketch at Cas(e) this Sketch for my design.

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Stamps:  Dream Big (Hero Arts)

Ink: Black, Copics

Paper:  Whisper White, Black,  Brushed Silver, Hero Arts Patterned, Red Glitter

Happy Day......FMS319

After two weeks of crazy sub-zero temps and arctic winds the temperature finally made it into double digits!  Miss Emma hit the slopes with her dad and the Big Guy while I stayed home and made this card using tropical colors in honor of the sunshine and 20 degrees!

Rita has a great sketch for us to start the new year at Freshly Made Sketches.  Hope you join us!

Stamp Sets: Bubble Over

Ink:  Calypso Coral, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay

Paper:  Whisper White, Bubbles & Fizz DSP, Silver Foil

Fusion: Mail Call

This little panda is just the right guy to deliver a sweet message.  In today's world of instant messaging, texting and cell phones it is a treat to receive a handwritten message.

The Big Guy and I leave notes on the kitchen table to keep each other posted on our whereabouts if need be.  He is not a fan of cell phones and reluctantly carries an old flip phone for emergencies.  We all know better than to call him just to chat.  And iPhones are the devil's tool in his world.  I left my phone on the table the other morning while I walked the dog.  As I came back into the kitchen he was poking at my phone and yelling hello. He said Erin was calling but he couldn't answer it.  I took the phone and swiped it to call her back when to my surprise Adele popped up on the screen and started singing Hello.  Yes somehow the Big Guy managed to disconnect the call and wake up that helpful "person" who lives in your phone who naturally thought the he was ordering a tune from Adele!  The Big Guy was not amused ...... but I am still laughing.....hey even Superman had his kryptonite!

It is our first Fusion of the year and we have some guest designers playing along with us - hope you join us~!  I used the sketch and the picture for inspiration this week!

Stamp Sets: Party Pandas (SU), You (SSS)

Paper:  Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Bubbles & Fizz DSP, Wood Textures

Ink:  Black, Calypso Coral