Daffodil Days

I was so jealous as I visited my mom this weekend. She has daffodils blooming and I expect her tulips and hyacinths will be by the weekend as well. There's a house near the elementary school where I teach where the entire (and I mean entire) yard is covered in blooming crocuses...can you say ooooh and aaaaahh! I absolutely love flowers and have a perennial garden with some beautiful varieties. The problem is that after caring for all of my flowers throughout the summer, I have no desire to plant bulbs in the fall. So here we are in spring with me wishing that I would have planted some bulbs....maybe this year!

To tide me over, I made this card with the latest Flower of the Month set from PTI. I'm not totally satisfied with the card as a whole, but I like all the individual parts (tilted image, sentiment on vellum, October Afternoon dp, zig zag chain edge punch).

Hope your week is off to a good start. I have so much going on this week - hair cut tomorrow, Egg Fashion Show in my class (Wednesday & Thursday), get together with some girls at school on Wednesday, make Cake Pops for my high schoolers for their Advisor-Advisee period on Thursday, and my formal observation on Thursday. I will need that 4 day weekend!! And with the weather forecasted to be in the upper 70's, I absolutely can't wait!!


Details:
Stamps - Flower of the Month: Daffodils (PTI)
Paper - vellum, white, Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip; October Afternoon - Ducks In A Row: Peek-a-Boo
Ink - StazOn; Copics
Accessories - button (Foof-a-la), gingham ribbon, zig zag chain edge punch

MyGrafico Monday - For The Birds

You're really gonna want to join us for this week's MyGrafico challenge!! The set that's up for grabs is SOOOOOOO ADORABLE!!! Look:

Told ya!! And it's perfect for PAPER PIECING which happens to be this week's MyGrafico Challenge - create a card/project/LO using MyGrafico images and paper piecing. If you don't have any MyGrafico images to work with, head to the freebie section where you'll find lots to choose from :)

The design team has some great ideas with this set, so be sure to check them out over at the challenge blog and on their blogs too! Here's mine:

Can you see why I love this set so much? I already have a ton of ideas :)


Details:
Stamps - Springtime Birds (Cocoa Studio for MyGrafico), sentiment - Flower of the Month: Daffodil (PTI)
Ink - New Leaf (PTI)
Paper - kraft, white; DCWV - (Flower Shower & Green matstacks)
Accessories - flower punch (EK Success), baker's twine (Martha Stewart), button (PTI)

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

My pal Kelley hosted the most recent Everything But the Kitchen Sink challenge - a sketch challenge based on the wonderful wall decor in her craft room.

Here's the sketch:

Here's my creation:

Yep, I used some new goodies again! The violets set from PTI & some fun October Afternoon paper....love it!!

This post is going to be short...I think I overdid it walking tonight. I walked 4 miles, which normally isn't a big deal. For some reason, I'm feeling it now....so I'm heading to bed.


Details:
Stamps - Year of Flowers: Violets (PTI)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics
Paper - kraft (SU!); Ducks in a Row: Sleep Tight (October Afternoon)
Accessories - Swiss Dots embossing folder, adhesive ribbon (KI Memories), Embossed Curves border punch (Fiskars)

Blog Award

I received this sweet award from Tina yesterday - be sure to visit her blog! That girl is so fun!!



Here's the rules to receiving the award:
1) share 10 things that make you happy.
2) share 5 bits of trivia about you.
3) Pass this award to 5 other bloggers....

so......10 things that make me happy (other than the obvious family, friends, pets)
1. Coming home to a clean house
2. Fast internet
3. The hands free link in my car - just press buttons on the steering wheel to talk on the phone...amazing!!
4. Back to school shopping....I just love buying new school supplies
5. Chick fil-A (oh my heavens!!)
6. My perennial garden - I can't wait for those flowers to start poking through the ground!
7. DVRs - if you watch TV, do I need to say more?
8. Sleeping in until 8, stretching, and being lazy in bed until 9
9. Shopping road trips - Easton Towne Center in Columbus, OH is one of my favs
10. Taking off my shoes after a long day - ahhhhhhh!!

and now.....5 bits of trivia about me
1. I sang a lot in high school (choir, ensemble, and musicals). During an ensemble practice before a show, I tore a giant hole in my black nylons. When the 17 year old me didn't have an extra set of nylons, my teacher handed me a black Sharpie marker and had me color in my leg!! Thank goodness for rubbing alcohol!
2. I'm an only child and only grandchild on both sides!! Who needs more when you have perfection - haha!!
3. I worked at an amusement park for 6 summers as a teenager. I have no desire to visit any amusepark at any point in the near future!
4. I'm afraid of frogs! Always have been....when I was younger, I'd make my mom unlock another door to our house if there was a frog on the sidewalk blocking my path! I know this is ridiculous, especially since I don't have problems with things like snakes.
5. I'm not a big chocolate fan. My mom had a candy store when I was growing up, and she'd make a lot of homemade candy around the holidays. In fact, I hate the smell of melted chocolate.

Now to pass it along.....it's so hard to choose just 5 bloggers, so I'm passing it along to anyone reading this! I get such joy from the connections I've made through blogger that it seems only fitting to share the brightside award with any of my readers :)

Take care!!

Moving Up In The World

I was so excited today to hear that I'll be getting a new laptop at school! Wahoooooooo!! This makes up for a bunch of the aggrevation that I've been going through lately :)

Tonight I played with some more new stamps and oh what a night!

I created this card with Courtney Baker's (Practicing Creativity) newest set, Look Up! - wowza! This is such a fantastic set...absolutely perfect for paper piecing, which is one of my all-time favorite techniques! And I just love how the card turned out!


Have a great one!


Details:
Stamps - Look Up! (Practicing Creativity), Cheer Up (My Cute Stamps)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper - white, black; dp - DCWV (Spring Matstack & Flower Shower Matstack)
Accessories - black embroidery floss, paper piercer

Congrats!

I have a stack of new stamps that I can't wait to use....but when I have the time, my energy level isn't there! My allergies have been killing me lately - ugh...which means sinus headaches!

Tonight was a different story! I needed a card to congratulate one of my seniors for being one of six students selected for a scholarship at the college she'll be attending next year. I'm so proud of her & so excited! I know she likes purple (at least that's the direction she's heading with the prom gown), so here's what I came up with:

I typically have never been into butterflies. I think it might have something to do with a pair of (ridiculously expensive and ugly) shoes that I had to buy (& get dyed to match) - the satin shoes had dragonflies all over them!! But, I've been seeing butterflies images & cards everywhere and I've been loving them! When PTI came out with their latest butterfly set & coordinating die, I finally took the plunge. And wahoooooooo, I'm so glad that I did!

I'm off to visit three or four blogs, write a personal note to my student in this card, and fill out my census form before I head for bed. I took a nap tonight when I got home, so I'm feeling pretty rejuvenated right now....hopefully I can say that bright & early tomorrow morning!

Take care!!


Details:
Stamps - Butterfly Dreams, Polka Dot Basics II, Signature Greetings (all PTI)
Ink - Grape Jelly (Memento); Versamark
Paper - kraft; Dark Chocolate (PTI); dp - Flower Shower (DCWV)
Accessories - butterfly die (PTI), white gel pen

MyGrafico Monday - Good Things Come In Threes

This week's challenge at MyGrafico centers all around the stamp that we're giving away to one lucky participant:

This cute Fairy Tale set inspired the THREE challenge - add three of the same item to your card. "Why?" you ask......well, three is an important number in fairy tales. Think a minute, and I bet you can think of how many things in fairy tales revolve around the number 3......the three bears, three little pigs, etc. 7 is another number commonly found in fairy tales.

So here's my card....perfect for engagement!

The inside reads: "Before you find the prince. Congratulations!" I added three red pearls. Initially, I had three lip prints but I just didn't like how it was looking. I think the single looks much better.

Be sure to check out the challenge blog to see the other fabulous creations created using this set! And join us and you could win the set! All you need to do is create a card with 3 of the same items or follow the Wednesday sketch (or both!!) using a MyGrafico image. Add a direct link to your card/project/LO on the challenge blog by Sunday at 10pm, and the set could be yours!!

Details:

Stamps - Fairy Tale set (MyGrafico)

Ink - Copics

Paper - white, black, Real Red

Accessories - red pearls

Grin & Bear It

Just a short post to share a silly card! I've been so busy with Stephanie stuff since Thursday - outlet shopping after school Thursday, went to the park after school Friday, stamping day all day Saturday, and went to a scrapbooking party today. It's been nice, but I am tired!

One of my students had a fairly serious accident while trying to pop a wheelie on her bike last week. She crashed, broke off two teeth, and got scraped up. Her mom said she was being a trooper. The kids in her homeroom all made cards which reminded me of the perfect stamp in my stamp chest:

Tee hee!! She'll howl with laughter! I even added some Glossy Accents to the puddle for effect...hahaha!!

See you soon with my post for MyGrafico Monday :)

Details:
Stamps - Get Well Critters (All That Scraps)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics
Paper - white; Green Galore, Melon Mambo (SU!); dp - Flower Shower matstack (DCWV)
Accessories - black brads, Glossy Accents, dimensionals

So did ya go green?

List of to do's for today:

• Wear green - CHECK. Did you? I hope so!
• Give elementary kiddos St. Patrick's scratch off Luck O' The Irish cards - CHECK. Funny story here: I told my first graders that I had a treat for them. They were excited until I reminded them that the leprechaun could play a trick (some of the scratch offs revealed 'bad' luck - i.e. an extra homework assignment) with this treat. One of the boys turns to the other and exclaims (yes, exclaims), "Oh no, it might be YAMS!" Now, picture me trying to contain all of my laughter! Where in the world did 'yams' come from? I just love it!
• Wash car - CHECK. That is if spraying off the salt residue & muck at the car wash counts.
• Deliver birthday gift to mom's neighbor & play with Stella (mom's pooch) - CHECK. CHECK.
• Post a new card on blog:

• CHECK. This is the other card that I created for the PC submission call. I love the concept & the general look, but think it needs a little pizzazz somewhere. Couldn't put my finger on it, so I left it alone!
• Visit those blogs that I haven't gotten to yet - well, I guess I'll be goin' :)

Details:
Stamps - sentiment (Happiness Messages-Hero Arts)
Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Paper - kraft, Chocolate Chip (SU!); white (Georgia Pacific); dp - Flower Shower Spring Matstack (DCWV)
Accessories - striped baker's twine (Martha Stewart), dimensionals (The Paper Studio)

I Love A Sunny Day!!

And I love a forecast where the next five days are to be sunny even more!!! I came home from school and went to the local park with my best friend to walk. We walked for about 1 1/2 hours...wahoo!! Spring is back :).....I was hoping to take my car through the car wash at Sheetz, but there were 9 cars in line. Maybe I'll go & hand wash it tomorrow...luck might be on my side!

I have a quick card to share for you today. This is one of the two cards that I submitted to the PC call. I really wanted to submit more, but my mojo just wasn't up for the task.

The dp on this card is from the new Flower Shower Spring matstack from DCWV that I picked up at JoAnn's. There are so many fun patterns in this stack...definitely one of my favorites.



****Warning: Sappy teacher stuff ahead. Feel free to disregard****

On a different note, I have a new group of students - two first graders!! Keep in mind, before these two little guys, my youngest group were fourth graders (and my oldest - seniors!). I taught first grade the year before I took the gifted support position and I've had first graders before, but these two are just the highlight of my day! They're a hoot!! Just so refreshing, FULL of energy and giggles, and a zest for learning....anyone know a way to keep them from turning into middle schoolers? :) - they can grow up as long as they skip straight from 6th grade to the middle of their junior year when they're human again! haha!! I'm just joking. In fact, I'm having a really difficult time thinking about my seniors graduating. These students are the ones that were at the elementary when I took the position seven years ago. I've watched them grow into amazing young adults. They started practicing for their last competition with me last week, and it really hit me that they'll all be out in the 'real' world next year. Wow...time flies!




Details:
Stamps - sentiment (Happiness Messages-Hero Arts)
Ink - Paris Dusk (Memento-Tsukineko)
Paper - kraft (SU!), Enchanted Evening (PTI); dp - Flower Shower Spring Matstack (DCWV)
Accessories - Williams Blue ribbon (Offray)

Monkey See Monkey Do

I'm happy to report that I've made four cards in the past two days....doesn't sound like much, but I've been on a dry spell lately. I was even happier that I was able to create two cards after school tonight....just a few more blogs to visit then I'll be caught up & ready for bed!

I'm made this card last night quickly when I realized one of my students' birthdays was today....why didn't I just make all the cards this summer when I had this brilliant idea????? I finished it up first thing this morning and guess who wasn't in school today! That's okay....gave me a chance to bring it home for a photo opp!

It's a fun birthday card, so I'm hoping the 4th grade boy that I made it for likes it. I realized that I need more boy stamps when thinking about what to make. I wanted to make something with Legos or Star Wars (which would have been right up his alley), but those things do not exist in my craft room.

Keep your fingers crossed that the craft mojo sticks with me...I want to make scratch off St. Patty's cards for 14 youngsters - again why didn't I get this done when the idea hit me?????


Details:
Stamps - Birthday Monkeys (Stampavie)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics
Paper - Green Galore, Only Orange, Soft Sky (SU!); white; dp - Grade School (DCWV)
Accessories - binding edge punch (Fiskars), white grosgrain ribbon, red pearls (Mark Richards)

MyGrafico Monday - Challenge 40!!

So sorry that I've been MIA since last Monday. Having four student competitions in four weeks atop my normal hectic teaching load totally drained me, and I needed to take some time off of crafting & blogging. While I love blogging, creating, and connecting with all of you, the break felt really good.

But now I'm back....and with BIG news!!! This week's MyGrafico challenge is our 40th! Not only will the winner receive this fabulous set from BlackLeaf Studios, but she'll also be invited to join us as a guest designer!

The challenge this week is to create a VINTAGE card/LO/project and be sure to use MyGrafico images. With so many freebies available & great deals on sets, we can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Here's my take on the challenge (which I'd like to add was a HUGE challenge for me!!):

Love these images, but I'm not a vintage card maker....in fact, I hope that this looks vintage-y :) I added some Tea Dye distress ink, doesn't that make it vintage? In case you're wondering about my image panel, I just turned the Labels One nestie on its side. Looks cool, doesn't it :)

Be sure to head over to the MyGrafico Challenge Blog and check out all the fabulous creations by the design team!



Details:
Stamps - Vintage Chic (BlackLeaf Studios for MyGrafico)
Ink - Copics; Tea Dye distress ink
Paper - Very Vanilla; DCWV
Accessories - ribbon (striped & black); Labels One nestabilities, gold liquid pearls

MyGrafico Monday - In The Navy

It's Monday.

bad news: I have an uber-hectic day at school getting kiddos ready for a computer fair where they'll show off their websites, multimedia presentations, graphic designs, and more.

good news: I have a new challenge for you from MyGrafico!! This week, we'd like to see you create a card with the following color combo: NAVY, RED, and PALE YELLOW(yes, I know this isn't colored pale yellow...you'd wouldn't be able to see it if it was :).

The design team created some fun cards with this terrific set by Sanqunetti Design.

It will go to one lucky random participant from this week's challenges - remember we have challenges on Monday and Wednesday. Play along as often as you like and add a direct link to your card on the MyGrafico Challenge blog.

And here's my take on the challenge:

I love the color combo....probably because I can see myself wearing an outfit with these colors. Haha - I know I'm weird! Just wish I would have used my swiss dots embossing folder on that red layer....I always think of these things after I have the card photographed!!


Details:
Stamps - Blooming Friendship (Sanquetti Design for MyGrafico); sentiment - Autumn Blessings (PTI)
Ink - Paris Dusk (Memento); Copics
Paper - white, Real Red, Night of Navy (SU!)
Accessories - satin ribbon, button, dimensionals

ahhhh..the weekend

It's been quite a stressful week at school. I wanted to quickly post these photos of some items I created for a friend's Stampin' Up fundraiser. I was using the Top Note die....definitely a favorite!

We had a fun day & she raised some money for her kids' music school. I needed a day out with these gals after my week. Now I'm going to relax the rest of the night, and I'm planning a day filled with cleaning, laundry, card making, and visiting blogs tomorrow :)


Have a great night!

(I'm being lazy right now and not posting details. If you'd like to know anything, please shoot me an email & I'd be happy to share!)

Happy Birthday Dad

Today was my dad's birthday, and I'm happy to report that I got high marks for all of my good deeds :)


First up was his card:

He really liked it, which says so much! My dad always appreciates the cards I make, but doesn't always 'get' it. Finally a card that impressed him :)


But then I really knocked his socks off!!! My dad loves to give scratch off tickets. In September, I found a tutorial for creating your own scratch off item and knew that I'd be making my dad one for his birthday. For his scratch off, I had four choices which he could choose one to scratch to reveal a gift. Here's the card with the scratch off coating on:

And here are the choices underneath the scratch off surface:

I had to add a whammy, which really made my dad laugh! He thought it was the coolest thing and plans on taking it to work to show his friends....now, he must've REALLY liked this!! And it wasn't because of the fun Jolee's Boutique Slot Machine embellishment :) (BTW, he scratched off the Breakfast On Me space). If you're interested on how to create your own scratch off, check out this tutorial (I followed everything from this except adding glitter).


The night also included some gifts (the Darjeeling tea and a great cookbook) and a yummy dinner (corn & pepper salad, peppered steak, rice, and gobs for dessert). My dad has done so much for me over the years, so I'm so happy that he really enjoyed everything.



Details (Dad card):
Stamps - none
Ink - none
Paper - kraft & Night of Navy (SU!); pattern paper - Bitty Star Basics (Papertrey Ink), Celebrations (Provo Craft), Alex's Plaid (The Paper Studio), Bright Tints Yellow Gingham (Paper Pizazz)
Accessories - navy grosgrain ribbon (Offray), star punch (Fiskars), embroidery floss, Fabric Thickers - By the Yard: Leaf (American Crafts), corner rounder, washers, dimensionals

This Little Piggie Had A Birthday

One of my student's celebrated her 12th birthday on Sunday (almost a leap year baby!!), and I've been waiting all year to make her card. But last week, I had a panic attack and had to check my idea w/her. You see I've had this student since she was in first grade (she's in 6th now), and she's always LOVED pigs! I wanted to be sure b/c the last thing you want to give a preteen girl is a card with pigs on it!!

Guess who still LOVES piggies :)

I know she'll love this card - the colors are right up her alley, too!! Now I just have to get all of her classmates to sign it before giving the card to her w/the special birthday coupons!


Details:
Stamp - Happy Piggies (Rachelle Anne Miller for Stampavie)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics
Paper - white; pink & dot paper (DCWV); Bitty Boxes (PTI)
Accessories - Circle & Petite Scallop Circle Nestabilities; brown grosgrain ribbon (Offray), dimensionals

MyGrafico Monday - Try a Trifold

Happy March everyone! I thought I'd post over the weekend, but I took a break from crafting & blogging....and just relaxed! Boy did I need that! I'm feeling super refreshed & ready for the last 14 or so weeks of this school year.

Okay enough about that! On to this week's MyGrafico challenge - trifold cards. Have you ever made any? I haven't - I stick to the same things sometimes with my cards & any fancy folding doesn't really fall across my craft table. I don't know why because my card was super simple to make & I think it will make quite the impression.

This week, the design team used this fun Tea Party set from BlackLeaf.

And here's the card I created:

Just love how you can pull the greeting out of this! The tutorial for this trifold card can be found here on Splitcoast.

Now you should check out the other fabulous trifold creations by the design team and join in on the fun at the MyGrafico Challenge blog. You might walk away with the Tea Party set!


On a side note: I had to laugh a little using the tea set image because my dad and I were arguing on the phone about tea this weekend. He's just started to drink hot tea within the last 6 months; and even better, he's been expanding his horizons beyond the basic Lipton. He drank Twinings tea (or Twinling as my dad called it!) at Cracker Barrel a week or so ago in a purple packet. I looked it up and told him it was Darjeeling...he insisted it wasn't until 10 minutes of the Seinfeld-esque discussion went on & he realized it must be Darjeeling! Guess what I'm looking to get for his birthday on Tuesday!!



Details:
Stamps - Tea Party (BlackLeaf for MyGrafico); Dot Flourishes (Inkadinkado)
Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!); Copics
Paper - Chocolate Chip, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla (SU); dp-Rich Razzleberry (SU!); Cherrywood Ln. (Heidi Grace for Fiskars)
Accessories - corner rounder, Round Tab punch (SU!), Boho Blossoms punch (SU!), rhinestone, computer generated sentiment