Congratulations, Graduate!

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Tea Thyme (this is one of my absolute favorites! thyme, currant, and orange flavor this wonderful tea blend)

Hooray! it's Friday! :)
as many get ready to relax for the weekend, my work week is just beginning. grins! our weekends are always busy because almost every one is booked, thankfully!, with amazing groups out at Camp. between the shopping & cleaning in preparation and then the actual cooking & cleaning while the guests are at Camp, it's busy busy busy. if they want activities such as the rock wall, zip line, or hay rides, then that adds to the fun and excitement of the weekend. :) Palmer goes out to Camp with us and always has a grand time. just say, "Camp" and he is at the back door ready to go! I tell David that Palmer needs his own page on the website so that people can add their own photos taken with him or see his latest antics. Everyone is always asking how Palmer is doing. :) He is definitely a Camp dog!

Today I am sharing a card made for Ryan's fiancee, Elizabeth. She graduated last weekend with her Master's Degree from Indiana Wesleyan University.  She is now on staff at College Wesleyan Church as their Youth Pastor. She and Ryan both interned there.

The images & sentiment are from Vera Lane Studio, digital papers are from the Gennifer Bursett Julep collection, ribbons. twine, & pretty little acrylic flowers are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, and buttons are from my new & vintage stash.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you end up doing! :)

Challenges:
Crafty Catz - add flowers
QKR - anything goes
Crafting with Friends - anything goes
Jo's Scrap Shack - anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks - women celebration
Pile it On - small and/or pencils (tiny flower embellies, small typeprint on bg paper, & micro plaid ribbon pattern )
Craft Rocket - use embellishments: multiple ribbons, twine, buttons, tiny acrylic flowers
Star Stampz - hand colored image ( painted if that's okay)
Ellibelle's Creative Moments - for ladies or girls only
Craft-Dee Bow-Z - anything goes w/handmade bow
Kreativekauf - what you think about when you think of May (graduation for sure around here! grins!)
Morgan's Art World - anything goes

Beer Barrel Dwarf Publication

No Coffee today... feeling poorly and having juice instead.

I am finally getting a chance to share the card that was recently published in issue #110 of PaperCrafter magazine. I was so excited when they let me know they wanted to use one of mine in their publication!!! I am still waiting on the issue to arrive here in the States so I can add it to my collection. :)

I made this card for Tyler, our oldest son who graduated last month with a degree in bio-technology. He wanted to go into either the craft beer or winery industry, so I thought it would be fun to use this cutey little dwarf by Mo Manning, one of my ab fab fave artists.

papers are from the Basic Grey Boxer collection, flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, ric rack is by Really Reasonable Ribbon, and vintage buttons & twine are from my stash. liquid applique is added to the top of the tankard for beer foam. the beer label is from one of Tyler's favorites to add a bit of a personal touch. ;)

He actually started working for The Winery at Wolf Creek right after graduation and loves it!

Graduation Extravaganza!

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia

I promised that I would share photos from all of our sons' graduations, so here I am.... grab a cuppa and sit back. :)

it all started with Ryan graduating from Indiana Wesleyan University. he is now working for The Salvation Army in Marion, Indiana as their Assistant Director. :) Pictures show him with his girlfriend, Elizabeth, as well as his dad.

the next week was Mick graduating from Hocking College. he and his girlfriend, Lauren, are moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan in just a few weeks. She will be starting work at a nature center there, and he will be working for Plant Wise Restoration, a company that manages invasive plant species with native plants to the environment.

lastly we have Tyler who graduated from Kent State University. photos show him with his fiance, Danielle, as well as Mick and Dave. Tyler has started working for The Winery at Wolf Creek after obtaining a degree in bio-technology.

yes, I am a VERY proud mom! they are all in jobs doing exactly what they love with wonderful women who both love & support them. (and vice versa!!!) I couldn't ask for more!!! :) life is good indeed!

Congratulations, Grad!

Coffee of the Day - Sweet Potato

It's time for a new challenge over at Aud Sentiments, and our new theme is everyone's fave - 'Anything Goes + a sentiment'!!! that means that pretty much ANY papercraft project you create is eligible for the prize just so long as you include a sentiment! :)

I've made a graduation gift card holder using the fun AKV Boy Grad image by Bugaboo. today is also Oldie But Goodie day over on the Catch the Bug blog for Bugaboo, so you'll see some of the cute, but older images being showcased.

**the watermark I've been given by Bugaboo is the little lady in the car. 

it is NOT part of the card.** 

I found this card template online, but had to do a bit of tweaking to it once it was printed.I made the tassel from some baker's twine I had in my stash. the big button in the center really is black. it looks a bit off due to the photo. sorry about that.

cute little yellow dew drops are from Double Click Skittles. black houndstooth ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. I kept embellishments to a minimum since this is going to a teenage guy. ;)

thank you so much for stopping by! hope you have a most amazing day! :)

Challenges:
Creative Moments - anything goes with optional black/white/one color
4 Crafty Chicks - black and white
Crafty Ribbons - a man's world with ribbons
Cute Card Thurs - more than 1 fold
DRS Designs - it's a guy thing
Moving Along With the Times - man or boy
DL Art - flowers or graduation

Congrats, Graduate!

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Vanilla Creme

It's a new challenge over at Add a Little Dazzle, and boy howdy, am  I in for it.... first time in forever that I overslept! yikes! here it is almost noon and I just woke up! boy am I scrambling to get my post going, and that is on no coffee, folks, so bear with  me. ;)  I am trying to adjust to all of these DT posts hitting at once, so next week will be much much better!

anyhow, y'all just wanna see my project, I know! but please stop by the Add a Little Dazzle blog today to see what the rest of the Dazzling Divas have in store for you. this is such a talented team! I am really blessed to be on some pretty fab teams, I must say! you know you wanna play along and maybe win yourself some of these amazing metal sheets of your own to play with! as you can see, I am using them on EVERYTHING! tee hee!

Since our theme this week is 'Graduation,' I chose to use the Graduation digi stamp set by Doodle Garden. dies are all by Spellbinders. for the bg, I took a piece of the Aluminum metal sheet and ran it through my Big Shot using the Basic Grey Diamonds embossing folder. I then took slate alcohol ink and sponged it all over the metal sheet. I love the hints of blue that came through! some grosgrain ribbon, buttons, and handmade enamel dot finish the card. simple, because it is going to a guy. and his school colors are blue and grey, which come through nicely!

Challenges:
Stella Says Sketch - sketch 211
Crafty Sentiments - Father's Day/for a male
Papertake Weekly - for the boys
Oldie but a Goodie - Father's Day/masculine (Spellbinders Label 1 die, ribbon, and buttons are old)
Craft Your Passions - Father's Day/ for the boys
Ooh La La - Father's Day/male

Last of the Graduation Cards...

Coffee of the Day - Coconut Marshmallow

Happy Saturday to all of you! a big welcome to my newest followers, too!
this is going to be a super fast post. if it doesn't make any sense, please excuse my wonky, fevered head. Still fighting this radiation poisoning with new double doses of antibiotics. had a big nasty shot of one yesterday. also have to visit my oncology surgeon next week for a new mass that has developed, so a new adventure begins for this summer. will keep you updated as we get the news to what is going on.

---> also, I'm finding out that in the past 4-6 weeks, a LOT of important emails both going TO my email and coming FROM my email have gone on holiday...... in other words, they are floating out in cyberspace somewhere and never made it to their destinations. if you sent me an email and I didn't respond, and you thought that very odd, chances are I didn't get it. please please please re-send. the yahoo gremlins are at it again, being their naughty little selves. it's been quite interesting trying to get some things straightened out with people thinking I was ignoring them, or me trying to figure out why I never heard back...... one was regarding a magazine publication, so you can see I'm not fooling when I say EVERY email is important to me. :) please try again. thanks!

I'm posting what I THINK is the last of my graduation cards..... unless we hear from someone else that is. ;) you know how that goes!

the image is from Sassy Studio Designs and is part of a progressive challenge they are doing over at Paper Craft Planet. papers are Basic Grey Little Black Dress and edges were cut with a Tim Holtz die. used the same freebie Class of 2013 from Paper Crafts magazine, sprayed with my ink squirty tool by SU!. a few buttons from my stash, a gorgeous velvet flower from Petaloo, and velvet ribbon complete the card.

I leave you with this little goodie that was texted to me last night. made me giggle while I was lying in bed! :)

Challenges:
Allsorts - here come the girls
Polkadoodle - to die for
Sister Act - anything goes
Totally Paper Crafts - anything goes
Simply Create Too - bingo (N: red, bow, 3 layers, flowers, punch or die cut)
Charisma Cardz - divas
Shelly's Images - anything goes
Lia Stampz - add a flower
Divas by Design - tie a ribbon

Congratulations to Ewe!

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut

I'm sharing another one of the graduation cards that I promised you today. more will be coming later. yes, we know that many people graduating! ;) My card today is for the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge to use numbers. We are sponsored by both Bugaboo and Shape EZ Templates this fortnight.

I used the Graduation Sheep image from Bugaboo with Authentique Curiosity papers again. Also utilized the Class of 2013 free digi from Paper Crafts magazine. a few buttons, some baker's twine, and a cute little paper clip finish off this card going to one of Ryan's best friends. fairly simple, but that's okay. he won't mind! :)

Tip: ordinary office supplies become great embellishments, especially on cards for guys. look through that lap drawer of your desk and see what you can find for those hard-to-make masculine cards!

Challenges:
TTCRD - anything goes
Fitztown - anything goes
Kaboodle Doodles - anything goes
Songbird - All Creatures Great and Small
Dream Valley - animals
One Stop Craft - furry friends
Pumpkin Spice - anything goes
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - use a number
QKR - one for the boys
Crafting by Design - graduation
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - wedding, anniversary, or graduation

Bird is THE word at Pile it On! ;)

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut

okay, how many of you now have that song going through your heads? isn't it a HOOT? ha! yep, I'm an evil one bright and early on a Sunday morning!

if you are here for the Operation Write Home Memorial Day blog hop, then scroll down or click here.

Today's challenge over at Pile it On is to 'put a bird on it'! our lovely little robins flew the nest several days ago. right at the poor mailman I'm afraid to say! it was quite the comedy of errors, but then would you expect anything less at my house?! nope, didn't think so! they are still hanging around the house with their momma Robin, as I hear their beautiful songs. the babies sing at a much higher pitched frequency. it's so very sweet!

anyhow, on to my birdy card......
we are sponsored this week by Paper Nest, so I am using the fun graduation owl digital image to help me get a few graduation cards completed. I'll be posting several more grad cards in the next few days.

papers are Authentique Curiosity, 2013 digi was a freebie from Paper Crafts magazine, wood veneer is Freckled Fawn, embossing folder is Sizzix, and the remaining items are from my stash. 

Challenges:

Pile it On - put a bird on it

Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - use a number
Sweet Pea - birds of a feather
Totally Paper Crafts - buttons
Moving Along with the Times - embossing
Sassy Studio - graduation
Crafting by Design - graduation
House That Stamps Built - fur, fins, or feathers
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - wedding, anniversary, or graduation
Craft Your Passion - party animals
Pause, Dream, Enjoy - happy....... (graduation)
Pink Elephant - graduation
Great Impressions - celebrations
613 Avenue Create - anything goes
Robyn's Festish - birds