A night to remember

So um. Not really getting back into the blogging thing. Life is crazy - in a mostly good way - and I don't have much time for crafting. I'm just looking for a place to save this. For like. Forever. Because that is THE Garth Brooks talking to ME. Still in awe that this guy spotted my sign (thanks in part to my amazing luck at scoring seventh row seats!) in the crowd of thousands. And read it. And asked me my name and how I was doing. And then SANG MY REQUEST. Just unreal. Thanks also internet for allowing me to find this random dude on instagram who happened to catch part of the chat and song on video. I was so in the moment in never even occurred to me to grab my phone. What an amazing experience I will never forget!

Amazing! In Lonesome Dove acoustic @garthbrooks #tacomadome #garth #garthbrooks #legend #inlonesomedove #concert

A post shared by Ed Charles (@ed1275) on Nov 5, 2017 at 9:06pm PST

Taking a break

I've been blogging in this space since 2007 - hard to believe it's been that long! But my blogging has become more and more sporadic lately, so I think it's time to take a break. The existing content won't be going anywhere, and I may occasionally make a random post, but I think for now I'll take the summer off. I have been distracted by lots of "stuff of life" lately, and haven't had much time to create, so maybe this will give me some chance to refuel my creativity. Thanks for understanding and enjoy your summer!

National scrapbook day no 2

Another quick post from my phone - thus is a scrap page I made for one of Echo Park's NSD challenges. This challenge wast use 10 of something on your layout. I used 10 stickers - not counting the alpha - from the Country Drive collection. I also used papers and a journaling block from that collection. I am working on trying to use up some of my older collections, so this was good for that! Thanks for the inspiration.

National Scrapbook Day No 1

My computer's wounded and in the shop so I am attempting to blog from my phone so I share a couple projects I made for National Scrapbook Day, which happened to be Saturday. Since I'm more card maker than scrapbooker, I love that Echo Park kicked things off with a card challenge. I used pieces from the Summer Days and Country Drive collections to make this card, which showcases one of my favorite things about summer - flowers!

TCP Tuesday: Flowers

Hello and happy Sunday! This month's TCP Tuesday challenge is to make flowers the focal point of your card. I decided to create a background panel using all the little daisy stamps that came along with some of my favorite TCP stamps. I stamped the images, then colored them with Copic markers. I added a simple TCP sentiment on a banner with a button and seam binding to finish it off. It's also a small card, just 3.5 by 5 inches. I like that size for a change of pace. Plus, less coloring! :)

On a side note, I am among many bloggers and blog readers disappointed to hear that Google is ending its Google Reader service in a few months. (I'm also a fan of iGoogle, which is also going away!) I am trying out Feedly now. Would love to hear what you're using for a reader and if there are any tips or tricks for using Feedly. Thanks!

That's all for me today. Thanks for stopping by.
Supplies:
Stamps: The Cat's Pajamas
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copic markers
Cardstock: MFT grape and licorice, Neenah white
Accessories: ribbon, button

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I hope you're having a wonderful day. I have probably mentioned this before, but one of the reason I love Easter is because I love bunnies. I have for years. I have a collection of them - some stuffed and several ceramic or decorative bunnies. When March 1 arrives, I pull out the Easter decor and all the bunnies and they just make me smile! That's one reason I collect these adorable bunny stamps from The Cat's Pajamas. I mean, who could resist those ears? :)
Today's card is a soft one featuring pastel papers from the Teresa Collins Sweet Afternoon collection. I also paper-pieced Mr. Bun in a soft gray pattern from the collection, then colored his nose pink. The image is colored with Copics and I added a touch of Stickles to the eggs for sparkle. A simple button and ribbon tie finish off the card.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Supplies:
Stamps: The Cat's Pajamas 
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copic markers
Cardstock: Bashful blue, Neenah white, Teresa Collins Sweet Afternoon
Accessories: Nestabilities, corner rounder, button, seam binding ribbon

Easter Wishes

Today I have for you one of the Easter cards I made this year. It was inspired by a recent challenge on Splitcoast to use a nest and/or eggs in your design. This might be a little un-traditional, but it met the challenge. This is a challenging image for my limited coloring skills, but I quite like how it turned out. I kept the rest of the card simple to better showcase the lovely image. The papers are from We R Memory Keepers; I'm trying to use up the leftovers from last year! I hope you're having a wonderful weekend. If you're celebrating, I hope the festivities involve family, friends and fun.
Supplies:
Stamps: Impression Obsession
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copic markers
Cardstock: SU Regal rose, orchid; Neenah white; We R Memory Keepers dp
Accessories: button, ribbon

Hoppy Easter

One of the recent TCP challenges was an inspiration challenge that featured some modern patterns and a color scheme of bright yellow, shades of gray and black. I have been trying to get Easter cards made with whatever challenges I can, so I added a challenge for myself to make an Easter card from that inspiration. I picked out some patterned papers from the Echo Park Style Essentials collection that had some modern feel, then paired them with a gray bunny in a yellow basket. I did add a couple of very light touches of pink and aqua for the eggs and for the bunny's nose. Hopefully it works!
Thanks for stopping by today.
Supplies:
Stamps: The Cat's Pajamas
Ink: Memento, copic markers
Cardstock: basic gray, neenah white, Echo Park Style Essentials
Accessories: button, twine, stickles

Umbrella drinks

Hello there! Today is the Ides of March and also my Birthday! Today's post was inspired by my plans for the evening. If you haven't figured it out, I intend to be enjoying one or several umbrella drinks as I mark the passing of another year. Some good friends are going to join me  - and don't worry, none of us are driving! These little 3x3 cards were for a recent challenge on Splitcoast. The team at Taylored Expressions asked folks to make a set of mini cards. I pulled out some fun Imaginisce papers and my TE Chillax set and got to work. This will make great enclosures for gifts, I think.
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a fabulous day. I know I will!
Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copic markers
Cardstock: Yoyo yellow, pumpkin pie, turquoise, neenah white, Imaginisce dp
Accessories: nestabilities, ribbon, stickles

Box of Love

I made this card for a recent challenge from My Favorite Things. The challenge was an encouragement. This Pure Innocence girl is such a cutie, and a box of love sure seems encouraging, so this seemed like a good choice. I paired the image with papers from Bella Blvd. I love these papers - such fun patterns and colors, especially that chevron. I have almost used them up which is both great - because I have a habit of cutting into a sheet of paper and then never using the rest - and sad, because I will miss these papers when they are gone! The sentiment is stamped on an MFT label die. I debated whether to stamp in black or blue - the image is stamped in black, then colored, but the papers are navy. I think I should have gone with navy! I also added a touch of Stickles to the little girl's shoes, dress and the heart in her hair.
That's all for me today. thanks for stopping by!
Supplies:
Stamps: My Favorite Things
Ink: Memento, Copic markers
Cardstock: Night of navy, pretty in pink, Neenah white, Bella Blvd.
Accessories: Nestabilities, MFT die, button, ribbon, Stickles