Remembering

Today marks the second anniversary of my Dad going home to be with the Lord. My Mom and my siblings are in Maine today visiting him and then they will all go to lunch together...so nice to be together. I was there last year, but circumstances had me travel earlier in the summer, so I'm not with them this year. He's in my thoughts, remembered and loved...always.

I made this card for my Mom. My favorite lighthouse in all the world...the Portland Headlight. It's so classic and beautiful with the red roof. I'm sure she'll love it and notice my tie to home.

I stamped the image with StazOn and then watercolored it. I cut out around the image a bit on both the top and the bottom to make it pop a bit. Added the Riding Hood Red red ribbon and the flower to really enhance the roof. And I put the slightest layer of the Riding Hood Red underneath the first DP layer to just grab the color a bit more. I love RED!!!

Set: Portland Head stamp (non-SU), Warmest Regards
Accessories: BellaBirds DP, Whisper White, Bordering Blue & Riding Hood Red cardstocks, Prima, Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Various SU Ink Pads w/Aqua Painter, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch & Sponge

Tropical Birthday

Thinking about all the kids going back to school and the fact that fall is right around the corner, I thought I would make my latest birthday card more tropical. One of the gals in my blogger group is celebrating her birthday this week, and hoping that she has it in hand now, or soon...I thought I would post it up for you. Happy Birthday Kim:Ozziepuddles.

This is one of SUs retired sets that I just love and don't use often enough. I pulled out some retired colors to go with it, why not, right? I stamped the flowers and the leaf in the color I wanted and then restamped (using my ol' Stamp A Ma Jig) in Versamark so that I could clear emboss them. I know I could've done the easier route and just put the Versmark all over the image but then it would have embossed all the white spots and I wanted those clear. And then I popped them up. I also embossed the tree.

I stamped the sentiment right on the twill and sponged some color around the tree.

Set: Do The Hula, Warmest Regards
Accessories: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Cool Caribbean cardstocks/inks, Pink Pirouette ribbon, Certainly Celery Twill, Clear EP, Ticket Corner Punch, Markers and Sponges.

Time to Organize

Hello again! What a busy summer we have been having. I'm almost glad it is coming to an end. My daughter is starting high school this fall, and unlike many schools that have already started or will start very soon, she will not start until the Tuesday after Labor Day...I think that is 9/8....too far off, lol. She's been enjoying her summer, though, so I guess an extra week or two is good for her.

I have felt very displaced this summer. With all that has been going on, I just cannot get my head straight, but I think I am starting to unwind....and I have been organizing, so that always makes me feel better. Hubby calls me Monica from FRIENDS all the time. I take it as a compliment.

If you look back in the archives to last year...I posted some pics of my craft room. When we were in Japan I got a couple of metal shelving units that I never really liked, but it is what I was able to get at the time....we have now relocated them to the shed, and hubby has done his own bit of organizing in there.

Anyway, I searched Craigslist and found this Billy Bookcase from IKEA for a steal. It's great with the glass doors that will keep things dust-free. And my daughter got a new bookcase for her room so I took her white ones and stacked them. I feel much more together now! I even sorted through my stamp sets and found a couple I might be able to part with...it isn't easy you know. But, I'll put those on my sales page when I can.

On my trip to Maine, a couple weeks back, I was finally able to bring back my second paper rack and now I have them stacked and my papers have their own slot instead of being doubled up!! Yippee!!! I have a spot under each color family for a container that I put my scrap pieces in. I have one of those for each family and am searching to get some for my neutrals to. I do keep my In-Colors separate, but that's ok.

And lastly...I don't think I posted this before, but I rigged up a sticker rack as well. This I did a couple months ago and it is so nice to have my stickers out where I can see them. When things are hidden, I don't use them.

Now that I'm decluttered...I'm off to get inky!!
Have a great day and a wonderful week!!!

Warm Appreciation

My birthday was last month and during the month of July I was fortunate enough to receive a few RAKs from friends on SCS....so here they are, with warm appreciation.

The first comes from my wonderful friend Katrina (tiki.nz on SCS), we are actually in-person friends :) I haven't been lucky enough to meet any of the others I'll list. Look at all the detail work on this explosion box, it's beautiful!!

This next one comes from Judi (Stamparooni on SCS), the more I see this set, I wish I had it! Love the colors.

This next one was from Karen (Brad's Mom on SCS) I just love how she added the dimension with the extra swirls on the tree!

And many of you know this next person....she is on our Ocean's 11 blog roll....known as Adventures from the Monkey Hut. I love the shimmery white paper and the embossed image, so very pretty and classy.

Thank you to all. I'm very touched. I hope to be back stamping next week....until then, enjoy your summer!!