Sunshine and Smiles....FMS339

I had plans for a bit more color on this card but when I got this far I stopped because this card just made me smile!  That doesn't always happen but when it does I know the card is finished!  I paired Daffodil Delight with the new color Gray Granite - love it!

And Miss Emma made me smile last night at bedtime. Her mother was working late so I was on duty.  Instead of reading a story before bed she asked to hear a bad Uncle story or a bad Baby story.  It seems her mother has been telling tales about Uncle Mikey when he was young - and also about Miss Emma's antics when she was a baby.  So here is the bad Uncle story I told Emma last night.......

Uncle was the catcher on his Little League Team.  When he got older the Big Guy enrolled him in a one week summer baseball camp to prepare him for middle school sports.  The camp was an hour away and I was the designated driver. (Hooray for nearby malls and early movie times!) So every day for two hours I listened to Uncle whine and complain how he didn't want to go and he wasn't going to do anything once he got there and he would rather be at the lake and he was going to sit on the bench and refuse to play because it was too hot and on and on and on.  On the last day parents were invited to a short awards program. The final award was given to the player who had shown the most enthusiasm, energy and improvement during the week......and Uncle won!  The prize?  A "full scholarship" to the next year's summer camp.......still makes me laugh thinking about the look on his face when he won that prize! 

And yes he went the next summer too.......

I love Jen Brum's criss cross sketch this week!  Have fun with it at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Sets:  Kinda Eclectic, My Sunshine (SSS)
Ink:  Gray Granite, Daffodil Delight
Paper:  Whisper White, Gray Granite
Die Cut:  Stitched Cloud Edges (MFT)

Remembering.....

It's a cool Memorial Day morning here.....perfect for having a cuppa and remembering those who served.  My dad was in the Air Force stationed at an airfield in Southern England throughout WWII.  He is buried in the cemetery of the small village where I grew up.  So many of his friends and fellow members of the Greatest Generation rest there with him.  It is amazing - and humbling -  to see all of the American flags there to honor veterans.  

Miss E enjoyed this morning's parade!

I linked my card up to the Coffee Lover's Blog Hop - always a fun event!

My card was inspired by the wonderful sketch at Cas(e) this Sketch!

Stamp Sets: Varied Vases (SU), Merry Cafe (SU), Newton Loves Coffee (Newton's Nook), City Streets (Sunny Studio)

Paper:  Whisper White, Tutti Frutti DSP

Ink:  Berry Burst, Night of Navy, Peekaboo Peach, Soft Suede

Fusion: Coral Flowers

I actually broke out the Zig Markers and Aquapainters for today's card!  Must be because I am so happy to see some blooms around here again!  I do not have a green thumb at all so my porch flowers come from Sunnycrest Orchards every year and only last until the first frost.  And as far as our lawn is concerned according to the Big Guy if it is green it is acceptable!  We are not gardeners for sure.  But I do love our annual trek to buy flowers.  On a beautiful day like this I can almost forgive Old Man Winter for hanging around so long this year......

I used both the picture and sketch as inspiration for my card today.  Hope you join us at Fusion!

The Paper Players has a CAS Blooms challenge this week!

Stamp Set:  Accented Blooms

Paper:  Bristol Smooth, Grapefruit Grove

Ink:  Versafine Black, Zig Markers, Calypso Coral

The Best - FMS338

Nine years ago this week I signed up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator under Mary Fish.  And here I thought it would be a quiet hobby to putter with now and then.  I am still a hobbyist but have made so many new friends and have traveled all over to stamping events. I had never heard of Splitcoast or Design Teams but I somehow jumped right in! And then there's this blog....who would have ever thought I would blog?  Mary did - she encouraged me and helped me set it up way back when.  Mary was relatively new to SU as well when I signed up but there was no doubt that she was going places.  So while I puttered along Mary built an amazing team of stampers and sold over a million dollars in product.  She is a wonderful upline and there are still a few of us in her downline from the early years. We have rooted for her every step of the way!  

I was drawn to Mary's clean, simple and oh so classy design style from the beginning.  Varied Vases is her million dollar set and it is oh so Mary!  I kept my card CAS as well and featured some brand new colors from SU's line.  I am loving the new color refresh!

I also love love love Kim's sketch this week - that's one love for every stripe!  Have fun with it at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set:  Varied Vases
Paper:  Whisper White
Ink: Black, Grapefruit Grove, Highland Heather, Pineapple Punch

Let's Hear It For The Boys! FMS337

A sentiment from Stampin' Up's soon to be released set Around the Corner worked perfectly for final batch of graduation cards I made for my daughter.  It has been quite the crafting week around here.  I am a selfish crafter and only make cards for my own use so creating what other people want is tough for me!  But...30 graduation cards are done - check!

Then I made 25th Anniversary invites  - with a request for super simple - I had to remove the bows.....sigh....25 invites done - check!

Oh there's more -  these were the toppers for favors at a Thirty-One Event my daughter hosted - a camping theme was requested.  They were clipped to clear bags filled with marshmallows, graham crackers and hershey bars.  20 toppers - check!

Since Erin is a Thirty-One consultant  I have a zillion 31 products to keep things organized in my craft room.....and to lug stuff to gram's.....or to the lake.....or to shoebox swaps.  I have a Super Swap It Pocket that is terrific for swaps.  BUT what I recently discovered it that Stampin' Up's new Stamparatus fits into the side zipper pouches perfectly!  There are two side pouches so you can put the Stamparatus on one side and the second plastic cover on the other!  I know many of you use 31 products so I'm passing along the info in case you have one of those Swap It Pockets lying around somewhere!

So that was my week....whew!  Glad to get back to my own crafting!


I am delighted to be hosting this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  My sketch leaves you lots of room for creative action!  Join us!

                                                  

Stamp Sets:  Around the Corner, Bike Ride, Smarty Pants (Paper Smooches)
Ink:  Night of Navy, Black, Copics
Paper: Whisper White,  Night of Navy, Lemon Lime Twist, Tutti Frutti DSP
Die Cut: Painted Grad (SSS)

Fusion: The Harbor

Finally things are blooming and the sun is shining - almost strawberry season!  And look how happy Corduroy is to be running in the sunshine!

Or perhaps he is just happy for rescuing his friend Silas and himself.  My son stepped out of the car yesterday but left his keys on the dash.  Corduroy and Silas then jumped into the driver's seat to look out and managed to hit the lock button and locked themselves in the car.  So before we called AAA Mike decided if the pups locked the car they should be able to unlock it.  Well I wish I had taped his antics to get those dogs all excited.  Silas soon tired of the game but Corduroy kept jumping and hopping every time Mike did and sure enough he finally hit the button in the sweet spot!  

I pulled the colors from the photo and used the sketch this week at Fusion!  Be inspired by either....or both!

Stamp Set:  Fruit Basket, Bookcase Builder
Paper:  Whisper White, Tutti Frutti DSP, Night  of Navy
Ink:  Real Red, Lemon Lime Twist, Smoky Slate, Black

For the Ladies....FMS336

My daughter is a college advisor and works with high school juniors and seniors throughout their college search and application processes.  This week she put in a request for 30 cards for her graduating seniors - yikes I need to get busy!  I'll be making fourteen of these for the girls. I love this new hostess set from the upcoming Stampin Up! catalog!  Such a fun image!

And speaking of fun we celebrated Gram's 93rd birthday this week.  She is always up for a good time!

And Miss E designed festive headbands for them just for the occasion!

Jen Mitchell.....who is as happy to see springtime as I am......designed the sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  So many creative possibilities with this one!  Join us!

Stamp Set: Hand Delivered
Paper: Whisper White, Bubbles and Fizz DSP
Ink: Black, Calypso Coral, Copics

It's Been Too Long......FMS335

If I could mail a card to Winter I would send this one as a reminder that it needs to move on! It's been too long ~ I am ready for a summery scene like this one! This past weekend was cold and rainy in Vermont when we visited our son.  Ski season is over but driving through mountains with Callahan men means you check out the ski areas anyway - just to see how much snow is left.  

(The four seasons in our family are Boating Season - Waiting for the First Flakes Season - Ski Season and Watching It Melt Away Season!)  

We visited Pico and Killington to check out the snow cover but the mountains were draped in fog so we didn't stay long.  And that meant an early dinner at a neat place called The Garlic where the specials were written on uncooked lasagna in the middle of the table!  

Jen Timko's wonderful sketch was perfect to showcase images from the new SU set  Lilypad Lake!  Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

The Paper Players are having a Tic Tac Toe Challenge this week  I went across the top row~!

Stamp Sets:  Lilypad Lake, Hero Arts Sentiment
Paper: Myths and Magic DSP, Whisper White
Ink:  Tranquil Tide, Pool Party, Black, Copics