Fusion - Pink Phone

I am posting two views of this card today so you can get a better look at the silver embossing and the hint of pink in the balloons.  I loved both the sketch and the photo this week at Fusion and used the colors from the picture and the sketch.  Wish I had a stamped image of that phone!

I remember when a long distance phone call was a wonderful way to send smiles across the miles.  It was a very big deal to talk to our relatives in California.....always after 9 pm when the rates dropped. My dad would set the stove timer to keep the conversation short since every minute cost $$$!  And the first half of the conversation usually sounded like this - 

"Can you hear me?"  

"What time is it there" 

"What's the weather there?" 

And the calls usually ended with - 

"I'll tell you more about it when I write!"

Yes long discussions were saved for the letters.  My aunt in California and my dad (her brother) argued endlessly about politics - all in letters.  I wish I had saved them!

Hope you play along at Fusion!

My friend Roseanne drew up a great Tic Tac Toe Challenge this week!  I did metallic...free...stripes....

Stamp Set:  Lift Me Up

Paper:  Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Silver Striped Vellum

Ink:  Flirty Flamingo, Versmark

Who Is the Sweetest?.....FMS334

Miss Emma's sweet pups turned one this week.  They are brothers but oh so different.  Cooper is bigger than Benny but not as brave. He just wants to be petted and fussed over.  Benny is a rascal, cute as can be and wants to be in charge.  They hate to be apart and often sleep tangled together. 

                                 

And when it comes to mischief they are professionals......and like all good brothers they never tattle......

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

 

Hand Stamped Sentiments is having an Inspiration Challenge this week - lots to choose from!

Stamp Sets: Lemon Zest, Fruit Basket
Paper:  Whisper White, Tutti Frutti DSP
Ink:  Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Peekaboo Peach

Bird Banter.........FMS333

The whole time I was coloring this parrot all I could think of was Sharpie the Gilette parrot asking,  "How're ya fixed for blades?"  Yes I am that old!  He was a sassy cartoon bird who advertised razor blades during the Friday night fights long ago.  I wasn't allowed to stay up and watch those fights but I could watch the opening commercial with Sharpie and then head up to bed.  Strange the things you remember.......I can't remember where I set my glasses down twenty minutes ago but I can remember those commercials from 60 years ago.....scary......


Narelle, our oh so talented friend from Australia, has a fun sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Join us!


                                                      

Stamp Set:  Bird Banter
Ink:  Garden Green, Black, Copics, Distress
Paper:  Whisper White, Tutti Frutti DSP
                                                                     

Swaps from OnStage

As promised here is a peek at a few of the swaps I received last week at OnStage - such fun to see all that creativity!


How about these amazing fancy folds?  First a fun birthday card from Kathi Davis......

And then there's this gorgeous citrus-y card from Dianna Joslyn!

Diane Hughes used Brushos and embossing paste to create a fabulous background!  Diane stayed at the same hotel we did and quickly became Miss Emma's best friend!

Debbie Henderson created this framed beauty - I love the sweet bird perched on the "windowsill"!  Debbie and I had a great time sitting together during OnStage.  

The splash of blue behind Gayla Truett-noel's beautifully colored pot of brushes is the perfect accent!

Ruth Snyder's thank you card has wonderful texture and sweet flowers!

Laurie Hansen's butterfly is stunning!

Waterfront is one of my favorite sets and Ann Nescot created a delightful scene with it - I would love to vacation in such a spot!

And what happens when you remove all the color from a Waterfront card?  This happens.....

Nancy Baker created an amazing work of art!

And speaking of Nancy Baker I am off to her house - more specifically to her fabulous craft room - today for a shoebox swap.  Always fun getting together with crafters!

 

Fusion: Baby's Room

Who knew a rhino could be so adorable?  He's part of a new set from Stampin' Up! called Animal Outing that we all received at OnStage this past week.  And he fit right in with this week's Fusion Challenge!  I used the sketch and the photo for inspiration to design this sweet baby card.  Join us this week at Fusion!

                                      

Stamp Set: Animal Outing
Ink: Black, Copics, Basic Gray
Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White, Basic Gray, A Little Foxy DSP (retired)

Good Fortune......FMS332

I had the good fortune to attend Stampin' Up!'s OnStage this past Saturday in Hartford, CT!  I got a sneak peek at the new Stampin' Up! catalog and saw many new products including restyled inkpads and wonderful  new colors.  But the best part of these gatherings is chatting with so many wonderful - and amazingly talented - demos.  I will share some of the great swaps I received with you later this week!

Emma and her mom came to Hartford with me too.  They explored the city for the day and found a wonderful children's museum and toy store.  When they returned at five to pick me up they were just in time for Emma to help with an after event swap!

I hope my friend Karren doesn't mind that I sort of went outside the lines with my take out container today........that's what happens when you look at a sketch and think "oh I will remember that"......and then you don't quite remember it exactly!  Enjoy her wonderful sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week - and do remember sometimes it is fun to go outside the lines!

Stamp Set: Fortunate to Know You
Ink: Black, Copics
Paper: Whisper White, Emerald Envy, Pick A Pattern DSP

Simple Thanks......FMS331

Melting snow......dirty snow.....cold rain......mud......April in upstate NY is definitely not like April in Paris! I just need to hang on for another three weeks until the green returns. I think that is why I was inspired to make the cleanest card possible today.  I am ready for spring colors, bright flowers and clean streets.  But in the meantime there is a lot of work to do.  The Big Guy bought a new chainsaw yesterday to deal with all of our broken branches, shrubs and hedges damaged during those March storms. Our landscaping is going to look like my bangs used to when my mother chopped them every few weeks with the kitchen scissors!  

Such a great sketch this week from our master die cut artist Cecile! In honor of her I used a daisy die cut sponged with Distress Inks for my focal point. Join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set: Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Whisper White, Bubbles and Fizz DSP
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Twisted Citron Distress, Abandoned Coral Distress
Die Cut: Fresh Daisies (SSS)

Stamp Review Crew: Happy Birthday Gorgeous

The Stamp Review crew is featuring Happy Birthday Gorgeous today!  It was a cold and windy Easter - no flowers outside anywhere yet so I was happy to put some on my card!  It was a busy day with Miss E helping to deliver Easter lilies..........

 .......and Gram enjoying a visit from the Easter Bunny before we all went out to dinner!

Hope you enjoy hopping around with us today!

If you missed Tanya‘s wonderful designs hop back there.....

                                                   

Otherwise hop over to Kelly's blog to see what treats she has in store!

I used the sketch from Cas(e) this Sketch this week.

I followed corner to corner in the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.

Stamp Set: Happy Birthday Gorgeous

Paper:  Whisper White, Tutti Frutti DSP

Ink:  Peekaboo Peach, Berry Burst, Sweet Sugarplum, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Lemon Lime Twist