Feeling Better....FMS702

 

My computer got out of the hospital in the nick of time to get this FMS card posted before we go live!  I only use my computer to blog once a week so I am glad it was an easy fix for under $100!  I am not a computer savvy person so the computer guy just took out the trash - got rid of everything I do not need and updated.  Also got rid of Norton Virus Protection - he said I don't need it at all for what I do.....which is probably a polite way of saying "I have no clue what this card thing is you have going on but you don't need to pay for Norton - the built in Microsoft protection is fine!"

So since my computer is feeling better I am feeling better - and definitely not so grumpy!  We had a great time at the county fair this week - always a fun outing before school starts.....and this is always a favorite ride.....

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

Stamp Set: Apple Harvest (SU!)

Paper: Timeless Plaid DSP

A New Century of Sketches......FMS701

 

And we are off into the 700's here at Freshly Made Sketches! I am limping along here with a very tired and uncooperative computer that will be headed to the shop this week.....hoping things are back on track next week for Sketch 702. This is my second computer since I started at FMS  700 sketches ago so it may be time for an update! 

 My trees this week are from Gina K's new set called O Christmas Tree and I found a piece of metallic card stock in my stash that was perfect with the funky trees! 

Hope you have fun with Jen Brum's trio this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Darling Duckling, Boho Blue,Pecan Pie (SU!)

Celebrating 700!.....FMS700

 

Wow 700 Challenges are definitely worth celebrating! Seems like a huge number and it is stunning to me that I have made so many cards over the years!  I used the Cheers and Sips set with coordinating DSP to create my celebratory card for this week's challenge.

Way back in September of 2011 Leslie launched Freshly Made Sketches and I was delighted to be part of the original FMS Team! This is the very first card I made for Challenge #1! I think I need to break out the buttons and twine again!

And this is my daughter's birthday card I made way back in December of 2011.....sketch number 14 for FMS which we brought out of the archives to use again today! 

We have some former DT members returning this week to celebrate this milestone.  Hope you join the party as well at Freshly Made Sketches!

Happy Campers......FMS699

 

Ohhh summer nights and campfires - nothing better! Lots of stars, fireflies and marshmallows to roast make for a perfect evening.  Bug spray helps too! 

The card came together quickly thanks to Verena's great sketch.  And that was good for me since I have had company all week! It has been great catching up with old friends.  Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set: Adventure Together (SU!)

You're A Keeper.....FMS698

 

I received the Tags to Go set this week in my SU! order and decided I had to use it with the FMS sketch this week.  My first assembly of the pieces were very close to the sketch......but then I had to make an adjustment here and an adjustment there .....and die cut just one more thing and switch out the DSP......

I don't have to explain it to you if you are a cardmaker.  It's like the process takes a life of its own and when I'm done I check the sketch and hope I can still see it in my creation!

Our sketches are starting points and are designed to get your creativity flowing! So join us at Freshly Made Sketches and see where your creativity takes you! Kim's sketch was a lot of fun to work with this week!

Stamp Sets: Tags To Go (SU!), You're A Keeper (Honey Bee)

Paper: On The Go DSP, Gold and Silver Metallic

Summer Afternoons….FMS697

 

I know I’m preaching to the choir when I say that we have had a crazy hot summer - I’m over it! Many of you are experiencing the same this year. A few hours at the lake always cheers me up though. Looks like this kitty thought the same thing and headed to a nearby pond. 

Meanwhile that grandson of mine is having a great time at a summer camp for a week in the Adirondacks.  This is how he spent an afternoon this week.....yikes! But he loved it!

Yep I think I prefer just sitting by the pond with Kitty.........

It is my turn to host this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  Hope you join us because I love to see the amazing things cardmakers create with my sketch!

                     

Stamp Set: Pond Pampering (Colorado Craft)

                                                Paper: Balmy Blue

                                                Ink: Memento, Copics

Have A Coke and A Smile.....FMS696

 

I admit I am a total fan of Coca Cola! When Concord and 9th gifted the summer camp participants with a small exclusive die set I was delighted to receive a soda can set! And naturally my first project had to be a Coke.  Tea for breakfast......Coke at lunch.....Milk for dinner.....I am so boringly predictable! But it has been that way since they installed a Coke dispenser in my college dining hall over 55 years ago - yikes! And if a waiter tries to sneak in a Pepsi instead of a Coke - look out! I won't be happy!

The can and the Hugs sentiment are both sparkly but that is hard to see in the photo. This will be sent to a friend who is a bit under the weather and also appreciates the "medicinal" qualities of a Coke!

Have fun with Jen Mitchell's great sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches! Hope you join us!

Die Set by Concord & 9th

Paper (SU!) Red Glitter, Red Metallic, Spooky Sweet DSP

Sailing Through Summer.....FMS695

 

Wow where has this week gone?!? Summer seems to just fly by! We traveled to my niece's graduation party, picked up my new car, painted the pantry and actually squeezed in a day of reading on the porch! Also managed to sneak in a lot of take out food because my kitchen was upside down.  Back to reality this week!

Stampin' Up!'s Sunrise Sailing Embossing Folder is beautfully detailed so I decided to let it take center stage on this retirement card. Kintsugi Inspiration DSP is an elegant backdrop for the embossed scene.

Jen Timko has a wide open sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches! Hope you join us!

                       

Let's Celebrate....FMS694

 

Cheers to summer celebrations! Whether you are celebrating a graduation, a birthday or just summer vacation the new Cheers and Sips Bundle from Stampin' Up! has all the ingredients for a good time! June was very busy around here so I am looking forward to a calmer July that includes lots of reading on the porch and lemonade!

Judy has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches! Hope you join us!

Pretty Palette.....FMS693

 

Amy has a fun sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I am sliding in a day late but I couldn't resist playing with it. Paint and Palette Dies from Honey Bee worked perfectly with the sketch! A spattered backdrop and sentiment from Colorado Craft completed the look. 

Our summer is off to a very busy start but I am hoping that July brings a few quiet days of just hanging out on the porch or up at the lake!

Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Let It Be, Let It Be......FMS692

 

A heat wave rolled in on Sunday.....which got only worse on Monday and totally unbearable on Tuesday with another day on tap for Wednesday. We don't have central air in our house because honestly where I live we don't need it......until now! Wow it's hot!

Monday night I decided to brave the heat upstairs in my craft room to tackle my FMS card.  It was so hot upstairs even with a fan that I decided I needed a thirty minute or less card.  So I scrambled through the huge mess on my desk left from the Concord and 9th Summer Camp I "attended" over the weekend. I found bits and pieces left over from classes so I embossed a background and boom I was done! I snapped a few photos, uploaded them to my computer then wrote the card to a friend to go out in the morning mail.

Tuesday afternoon I was typing my post at Emma's while her mom was at work and I noticed something not quite right in the photo.  The cone flower was upside down! I may have said a choice word which got Emma's attention.....and she gave me some very sage advice...."Amma....Let it be....just let it be".....

Hope your craft room is cooler than mine these days and you can join us at Freshly Made Sketches! Narelle has a great design for us! And if a flower is upside down.....let it be....

Stamp Sets: Garden of Gratitude, Pressed Poppies (Concord and 9th)

He Did It - Again! FMS691

 

For a six year old kiddo Will certainly has had his share of graduations! We went to a sweet nursery school graduation when he was 4.....then then a rollicking pre-K graduation complete with dance routines and rock and roll! Next week will be a moving up ceremony from Kindergarten.  He has done well in Kindergarten but if you ask him about the best part of his day he always says "riding the bus!"  He only lives four blocks from school but since it is on a very busy street he is eligible for a bus ride.  As someone who took a bus to school as well I totally get it......it was very entertaining!

Michele has a sweet sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches! She would love to see what creative projects you come up with - and so would I!

Stamp Set: Smarty Pants (Paper Smooches)

Paper: Poppy Parade,Turtle-y Cute DSP

Ink: Memento, Copics

Plaid EF from SU!

Poppin' In.....FMS690

 

Popcorn and a movie......one of the best partnerships in life!  Emma and Will were here for pizza last night and we had a discussion on movies.  I asked them for recommendations for my summer viewing.  Let's just say that the movie choices of a six year old boy, a twelve year old girl and a 75 year old grandma are light years apart!  But it made for a lively discussion and we all agreed that popcorn is a must!  That conversation definitely led me to use Stampin' Up's new popcorn set Poppin' By!

Karren has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches - hope you join us!

Baby Shark - Revisited! FMS689

 

When my grandson Will was very young his whole world was about Baby Shark.....singing the song, dancing to the song, watching the video.....I'm sure he wasn't the only one!   Stampin' Up! came out with a delightful shark filled stamp set back then so Will received many cards with Mommy, Daddy and Baby Shark.  But he has since moved on so I sold the shark set to another crafter about two years ago. I tossed extra images and bits of retired DSP into my "basket of many things"  and there they have been for two years.

Recently I placed an order with Riley and Company for some fun sentiments including this one because it made me laugh. When I saw the Paper Players Challenge this week  about reusing/recycling things that have been hanging around your craft room it all came together! I dug into the bin and found the diecuts and some retired ocean paper - fun!

My card is smaller then the regular A6 card because I tried to keep it square like Cecile's original sketch but I HAD to stretch it out a bit to make it all work! Make your card work with Cecile's wonderful sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

A Speedy Recovery! FMS688

 

And another one of my cousins has had surgery this week so this little guy is off to Baltimore to wish him a speedy recovery.  Texts have been flying back and forth keeping everyone informed.  It truly is amazing how texting keeps us all in the loop instantly even though we are hundreds of miles apart! 

Hopefully I won't need another Get Well card for a while!  And hopefully you have time to play with Freshly Made Sketches this week! Jen Brum has a great sketch for us!

Stamp Set: Feel Better (MamaElephant)

Paper: Timeless Plaid DSP, Pecan Pie

Ink: Memento, Copics

A Little Help From My Hens....FMS687

 

My cousin is recovering from surgery which has resulted in a few weeks of restricted activity.  Her husband has been stellar but she can't be left alone yet so an army has formed to help out with everything from meals to dog walking and general entertainment.  I am making a few of these for her to send to friends who have been terrific during a tough time!  

I just love these chicks!

Verena has  great sketch for us this week at FreshlyMade Sketches! Have fun with it - I did!

Stamp sets: Happy Hens (Gina K), Just Chicken In (TE), All Wired Up (SU!)

Ink: Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade, Pecan Pie

Follow Your Art....FMS686

 

I guess I took this sentiment to heart and followed my art instead of checking out Kim's sketch a bit more carefully. When I copied the sketch to post on my blog and read Kim's description I thought "Ohhhhhhhhh" so that's how it should be. But honestly that's the joy of creating - you never know where you will end up sometimes! I switched the sentiment I had used to "Follow your ART" because it seemed more fitting under the circumstances!  So follow your art and join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamps: Happiest Day (SU!), Sentiment from Impression Obsession

Paper: Floral Delight DSP, Lemon Lolly

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Boho Blue, Versafine Black

Screamin' Demons....FMS685

 

Roller coasters are not my thing but my kids and grandkids love them.  I hold the bags while they all board the Screamin' Demon or whatever a particular monstrosity is called! So this adorable set is perfect for "Emma's Stash Box" when she rummages in my craft room for birthday cards for her friends.

Meanwhile I entertained myself last week with axe throwing.  I have never thrown an axe in my life but I have now!  I was invited to a library staff gathering recently at The Hatchet House and had a great time.  And you thought librarians were just stuffy old ladies right?  After some instruction we were on our own.....it was great fun!

My very first throw that stuck.....

My very best throw.....

I am hosting this week at Freshly Made Sketches - sure hope you like my sketch and throw down with us!

Stamp Set: Coaster Critters (Lawn Fawn)

Ink: Memento, Copics

Paper: Azure Afternoon, Wildflower Birthday DSP