Viva la Verve!

Good morning! I have a Viva la Verve card to share with you this morning that uses some brand-spankin' new dp that arrived on my porch Saturday. I love the spring colors in this pack, especially the mix of the teals and pinks. In other words, prepare yourselves for a color rut. :)

I pulled out my New Mercies set and used it's namesake verse. And I think I sang the hymn the entire time I was making this card... I stamped the lyrics directly onto some pink polka dotted dp, and popped the whole circle up on some dimensionals. A little added ribbon across the middle tied all of the aqua together. I tried adding a little flower or butterfly with the circle, but it just seemed to throw off the balance of the card. So this one ended up being pretty sweet and simple. And quick!

It's book club night and we're discussing Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Kingsolver is usually a hit or miss author for me, so I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed this book. I am not eating completely green, off of my own land or local farmers, but I do cook a whole lot do to some rather tricky food allergies. Reading about her trial, tribulations, and successes of moving from urban Arizona to rural Tennessee was entertaining. Though the book could feel a little "preachy" at times, I found I could move past those moments and just enjoy the story (and this is a non-fiction account of her personal experience). I'm looking forward to finding out our next book (we read one book per month).

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies-
Stamps- Verve: New Mercies
Paper- Ruby Red, Whisper White, My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Howdy Doody dp
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- ribbon, nestabilities, dimensionals

Mojo Monday

Good morning! I have an older Mojo Monday card to share with you. This is one I made in the chasos of the last week or so and just never got around to sharing. Today seemed like as good a day as any.

I pulled out more of my Cosmo Cricket Social Club dp (so in love with this paper pack!) and made a bit of a simple card. I found another opportunity to use my filigree border die (love this little thing, too!) as well as a few recently-neglected brads. I just could not get the bow to work on this card, so please ignore the weirdness of it. It would. not. cooperate.

I'm keeping this post short and sweet.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- Verve
Paper- Soft Suede, Ocean Tides, Lemon Tart, Cosmo Cricket Social Club dp
Ink- Chocolate Chip
Accessories- ribbon, button, twine, brads, nestabilities, dimensionals, pearls, filigree border die

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge- Sketch #2

Good morning. It's a Disneyland day here, and I'm heading out a little later this morning to partake of some Disney tension-relief. My roomie is playing there a little later today in Carnation Plaza, and I'm going to support her in the audience as well as have a little unwinding time with good friends and family both before and after.

But before I depart, I have this card to share with you. This was another card created last night for yesterday's challenges over on Nichole Heady's blog. I wasn't so sure about this sketch at first... Not a lot to work with. But I ended up loving the minimal work involved! It was a quick and easy card once the dp was picked out. Which, of course, once more is CC Social Club. I can't stop using this paper!

I used an ek success punch for the ridged top (really need to find my pinking shears...), some sewing machine action (first try at the wonky sewing!), and ended up adding a little asymmetrical action to the sentiment. Along with some time and a button because the sentiment felt lonely.

It's supposed to be an overcast, dreary, drizzly day. Love it! It's the perfect Disneyland weather: It keeps the crowds down. lol

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Signature Greetings
Paper- Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream, Bitty Dot dp (simple chartreuse), Cosmo Cricket Social Club dp
Ink- Basic Black
Accessories- twine, button, sewing machine, ek success punch

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge- Sketch #1

Good evening! I'm popping in with a card I whipped up for today's challenge over on Nichole Heady's blog. She gave us five sketches to play along with to help celebrate Papertrey's Anniversary (and there are prizes!), and after staring and staring at the sketches, finally decided to give this one a go. Mostly, the color purple was speaking to me tonight, and I felt the call of my rustic dots dp, which meant I needed a sketch that would accommodate both. :)

This was a pretty simple card to throw together. Not many layers, only a little bit of embellishing, some stitching, and voila! I used Bitty Baby Blessings and paper pieced the pram, as well as used a few copic markers to be the accent colors. The poor bottom half of my card felt like it was missing out on all of the love, so I added some stickles dots along the bottom of the chevron. The perfect little bit of bling for a baby girl card without drawing too much attention away from the main image. The picture doesn't do the sparkle justice. Oh, and please ignore the wonky stitching along the bottom. I totally spaced on which way my sewing machine feeds (my head is definitely NOT attached to my body these days....) and ended up creating a rather crazy line in the moment of panic when it started feeding the opposite direction that I was anticipating. Sheesh.

I am looking forward to be "all there" again. The last week and one half has been rough in that department. I feel like I have simply been going through the motions, lackluster. Sleep is still tough. I keep having momentary panic attacks when in the "in between phase," between sleep and awake. That's when I remember my grandma is gone... And it stops my heart. I'm panicked. Devastated. Inconsolable. Every time. I have to calm myself, pray, ask for peace so that I can sleep. And then it happens again.... *sigh*

Being awake is, somehow, easier. I find myself praying and talking to God all throughout the day. As a friend. A father. A comfort. Is there a way to pray in my sleep?

Ugh, sorry for the emotion outpouring. Typing it out somehow feels therapeutic. Cathartic. Have I ever mentioned to you that I process out loud? My poor mom and roomie bear the brunt of this little personality trait. Thanks for being the listening ear tonight.

May the rest of your Friday find you blessed and loved. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Bitty Baby Blessings
Paper- Lavendar Moon, Vintage Cream, Plum Pudding, Rustic Dots dp
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories- buttons, twine, copic markers, tea dye stains. stickles, sewing machine, nestabilities

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge- Color

Good morning! I'm still furiously trying to keep up with the slough of challenges being posted over on Nichole Heady's blog to help celebrate Papertrey's Anniversary. Yesterday, the challenge was of the color variety. Ugh, how I struggle with these! I need a sketch! I need a source of inspiration! I stare at color and freak. out. To help myself along, I went ahead and printed the inspiration page and took it over to my stash of dp to see what would match ANY of them. Thankfully, I found one. One!

All of the papers on this card come from one paper pad. I found a sketch that I thought would accommodate such a variety of colors (aka- lots of panels!) and got down to business. And this particular business took me for-ev-er. Ugh. But it's done. I'm laying it to rest. The color combo scared me, I used it, and I'm moving on! lol

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Harvest Berries, Inside & Out: Birthdays
Paper- Smokey Shadow, Canyon Clay, Whisper White, My Mind's Eye 6x6 Darling Dear
Ink- Basic Gray
Accessories- baker's twine, buttons, dimensionals, Harvest Berries die

Taylor's Sketch Challenge #151

Good morning! It's back to work with me this morning, and I can truthfully say for the first time in days that I am looking forward to going today. Knowing that all services for my grandma are complete is such a weight lifted off of the shoulders. I can think, process, remember her, and rejoice that she is home, rather than mourn. I know there are some rough day ahead still (cleaning out the house, etc.), but somehow I feel stronger and more ready to face those days.

My card to share with you this morning uses Taylor's Sketch Challenge from a little over a week ago. However, I got lucky and she is now making the sketch every two weeks or so instead of every week! So I'm not late! Woot!

I pulled out more of these little Garden Critters stamps and chose the snail this go around. I stamped him twice, cut out the aqua mist shell, and popped it up with some dimensionals. I used a black marker to make a little trail behind him. I added a little twine behind the circle and lots of my tea dye stain to mute the white paper a bit.

Thank you so very, very much for all of your prayers and encouraging words. They have meant so much to both myself and my family during this difficult time. We're all looking forward to a week or so of rest, recovery, and healing before the next big tasks begin. And thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies-
Stamps- TE: Garden Critters
Paper- Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy, Whisper White, October Afternoon Modern Homemaker dp
Ink- Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Basic Black
Accessories- baker's twine, tea dye duo, nestabilities, dimensionals, jewels, copic markers, black marker

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge- Day 2, con't

Good morning. I have another card to share with you that I made for yesterday's challenge over on Nichole Heady's blog. In honor of Papertrey's 5th Anniversary, we had to create a card using one of the downloadable images and at least one other PTI product.

I chose to work with Heather Nichols's little birdie image. I added some red to the polka dots and flower with a copic marker to help it match the dp just a little bit more.

Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers this morning as we are having the graveside burial service this morning. Appropriately, it is raining. Emotions will be running high once more, but I think we are all glad that this is the last service and we can go on remembering instead of mourning and crying.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- None!
Paper- Ocean Tides, Fine Linen, Pure Poppy, Cosmo Cricket Social Club dp
Ink- None!
Accessories- ribbon, button, twine, copic marker, jewel, PTI digital download

Papertrey Anniversary Challenge- Day 2

Good afternoon! I am so excited to play along with a few of the challenges being held this week over on Nichole Heady's blog in honor of Papertrey Ink's 5th Anniversary! I was unable to play along yesterday, but wanted to join in with today's challenge.

Today, we had to choose one (or more) of the downloadable images and use it on our card along with at least one other Papertrey product. Easy peasy. Other than the little bit of bling on my card and one circle nestie, every single product I used is from Papertrey: cardstock, ink, die cuts, ribbon, twine, buttons...

I started by choosing my image and then pulling out a bunch of dp that pulled colors from the image. This is definitely a color combo a bit out of my comfort range, but I'm so glad I went for it! Quite frankly, Raspberry Fizz usually scares me... It's SO bright! But toned down around some Melon Berry and Pure Poppy, it looks so much nicer. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Supplies-
Stamps- Mat Stack 2 Collection
Paper- Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Melon Berry, Dotti Biscotti dp, Pretty Pastels dp
Ink- Pure Poppy
Accessories- ribbon, twine, buttons, dimensionals, nestabilities, Mat Stack 2 die, jewels

Wishing You Comfort

It has been a long weekend full of laughter, memories, and more tears than I can count. I have been surrouded by family, friends, and people I love. I am going to keep this post short and sweet, as I am utterly exhausted. I made this a few days ago, almost therapeudically. I have found more peace as the days go on, knowing that my grandma is home. But the hole in my heart of knowing that I won't hug her again on this earth still hurts.

I am looking forward to a good sleep tonight. And a good rest tomorrow before another service on Tuesday morning.

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI:Rosie Posie, Verve: New Mercies
Paper- Orange Zest, Lemon Tart, Whisper White, SU Greenhouse Gala dp
Ink- Pumpkin Pie, Pure Poppy, Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa
Accessories- baker's twine, apron lace punch, Mat Stack 4 die, Mat Stack 4 Layerz die, dimensionals, stickles, pearls

My Grandma

My grandma was one of THE most incredible people on this planet. My grandma loved her family only second to God. My grandma made the absolute best scrambled eggs I have ever eaten (and were always requested when I spent the night!). My grandma always kept a supply of peanut butter cookies in the freezer for us grandkids to devour. My grandma was an accomplished pianist. My grandma loved the Lord with all her heart, soul, and mind.

My grandma sent a birthday card to every single member of our family every year of our lives thus far. My grandma served at our church for over 50 years. My grandma led a Bible study every single Sunday morning. My grandma married a man of God, raised 4 children of God whom married other God-loving people, and all have raised God-loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My grandma could crack a joke with the best of them, even at 93. My grandma made 17x the sugar cookie dough recipe every Christmas for the grandkids to decorate. My grandma gave up her summers for many years to live in a motor home, simply to spend time with her grandkids in San Diego.

My grandma tolerated the insane messes my cousins and I would create in her hallways (with every pillow and blanket in the house) during family holidays. My grandma prayed for me every day. My grandma was married to my grandfather for over 50 years before his passing. My grandma was an incredible teacher and was a huge inspiration in my becoming a teacher. My grandma was a woman of her word. My grandma was wonderfully stubborn. My grandma had a musical laugh and a contagious smile. My grandma was dedicated to her passions and passionately dedicated. My grandma consoled a devastated me when my lost tooth fell down the drain, assuring me the tooth fairy would know and still come that night (and she was right!).

My grandma told wonderful stories about her life on a Wisconsin farm, marrying my grandpa in the middle of WW2, receiving and sending secret letters to him... My grandma always called me to see how my weeks were going. My grandma was on facebook! My grandma was my carpool buddy to every family get-together. My grandma had an incredible green thumb. My grandma was someone I have always looked up to. My grandma gave great hugs.

My grandma was one of my best friends. My grandma was a role model of the highest degree. My grandma was an ever-inspiring image of God's love.

My grandma was loved. Immensely.

My grandma went to be with our Heavenly Father yesterday. And I will miss her so much.