I'm Running With Scissors this Morning!!

Once again, I've found my way onto the Penny Black Blog where they let me run with my scissors.  This time it's all about Friends and Family.  To see what I've been up to, click here.
 

 
And here is Pampered Mimi, being happy in her bubble bath!!

 
I love when you stop by and I hope to see you on the Penny Black blog today

Oscar by Penny Black

Well, we are home from Atlanta!  A short but sweet visit with family.  We filled the two days with good food, family, and baby cuddles. 



51-046 Fresh Breeze;  40-306  Oscar
 

This is Oscar, a new Slapstick stamp set by Penny Black.  I love having some guy images for birthday cards.  I've added ferns from the Penny Black Creative Die Fresh Breeze just to give the card more texture and some visual interest.

The trip to and from Atlanta was the smoothest ever!  There is no direct route from Huntsville to Atlanta and we have tried a dozen different ways.  This route was a keeper; and it helped that we began each trip at 4:00 am!  Great time to be on the road.
 

 
And here are the three youngest grandkids:  Evelyn, Lauren and Andrew.  Evie just adored her cousins and it was hard for this Grandma to win her away for some cuddle time.
 
Thanks for dropping by!! 

Dainty by Penny Black

Who doesn't love gingham?  And gingham with tulips?  Perfect!

 

51-043 Dainty  51-050  Sweet Things  30-243  Amazing



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tulips are made with Penny Black's creative die Dainty.  I've added some dimension to two of the flowers by drawing an extra petal freehand and attaching it to the diecut.  I've also use the creative die set Sweet Things to create the tiny leaves at the base of the petals on two of the tulips.  Just adds a little interest, I think.  Thanks to Birgit for the inspiration!  See her awesome card here.

I am trying to be more about sending out the cards I make rather than collecting the cards I make.  This card is on its way to a friend from church who has been dealing with some health issues but never seems to slow down!  Friends called to check on her last week and she said she was a bit tired ...from her exercise class!!  Amazing, indeed .. she is 84 years old.

This is scheduled to post on Monday, Memorial Day.  It is the day to honor those service people who have given their lives in the service of our country.  How amazing is it that young people are willing to fight for freedom for all of us .. knowing that they could lose their life doing it. 

I think of the Gold Star mothers who have lost their son or daughter and live with that loss every day.  How proud they can be of that child; and how profound is that loss.

My flag is flying to honor those heroes and their families.

 

Hooray!

I'm having fun at the Penny Black blog today!  Would love to see you there.

But before you leave, enjoy this happy card.



Love how easy it is to color the candles with a water based marker!  Color, huff and stamp.  The sentiment is three layers of the Hooray diecut, glued onto a strip of vellum.  I find that the easiest way to attach vellum is with a few stitches on the sewing machine.

This card would brighten the birthday of anyone ... guy or gal.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!  See you on the Penny Black blog!



Dotted Fusion Background

Penny Black's new release Sunny Stamping includes some great masculine images, but it's not all about the guys!!  I love this new background stamp called Dotted Fusion.  I predict I will be reaching for it a lot.

40-278 Dotted Fusion;  30-243  Amazing

I white embossed the image onto patterned paper and then went over it with Distress inks.  I then embossed the flower image and sentiment with black VersaFine ink and clear embossing powder.  I love the way the background doesn't need much help to be the focus of the card.

Today I start in the kitchen making goodies to take to Atlanta this weekend.  I hope your holiday weekend includes some fun times with friends and family .. and some time to reflect on the men and women who served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice.  My flag is flying proudly today.  My extended family included a Gold Star Mother who proudly rode in the annual Memorial Day parade in honor of her son.

See you tomorrow on the Penny Black blog where I will be running with my scissors!!

Lost Without You

30-248  Lost Without You

Penny Black's latest release Sunny Stamping includes images for making masculine cards.   Hooray!!  The Transparent set Lost Without You will make Father's Day cards easy peasy!




For this card, I used a thin sheet of green cork for my card base and everything but the suit jacket was stamped on cork.  I like how the texture adds to the "guyness" of the card.

It's hard to believe we are in the last days of May.  I've always felt that May was our reward for all of the dreary and brutal days of winter. 

 

Thanks so much for your visit ... I am back to house cleaning mode which happens every time we plan to be away.  Love coming home to a clean house!! 

 

 

 

Its the Season!

Lots of graduations taking place lately.  I put this card together using only Creative Dies from Penny Black.  Not a stamp in sight!

51-029 Interlocking; 51-038 Hooray; 51-002 Leaves

I used the Interlocking die to create the patterned background out of cork "paper" and placed it onto a red card base.  A strip of kraft paper is the base for the Congrats die cut.  I love that font!!  I tied a twine bow around the stem of the elements from the Leaves Creative Die set.  And just for fun, I added the two white stars.

With a family our size, you can be sure I have listened to (endured) MANY graduation speeches!  The only one that has remained in my head is the woman who spoke ENDLESSLY at my son's Law School commencement of her own achievements over the decades!  I could see my son plotting his escape but caught his eye at the last minute and stared him into his seat!!

My brother video-taped the speech at his wife's advanced nursing degree commencement .. wonder how many times they have watched it?? 

Anyway, I firmly believe commencement speeches should be brief, should be humorous, and should be about the graduates, not the speaker!! 

A graduation from any program deserves congratulations and celebrations!!  The graduate has worked hard and persevered and sacrificed to claim the title "graduate"!

Life is good here in Alabama.  The weather has been perfect this week after a weekend of needed rain.  We are preparing for a weekend trip to Atlanta to visit the Atlanta family who is hosting the Wisconsin family for the holiday.  This means time with Lauren, Andrew and baby Evie as well as their parents.  I am cooking some family favorites to take along and look forward to serious family time!!

So good to spend time with you, too!!