Holy Moses!

Thank God for Labor Day! Today I shopped, and I made cards. I do have "work" to do, but it's somehow easier when I have been playing all day.

I have so desperately missed making cards and scrapbooking, but I literally had neither time nor energy for anything but survival for the past three weeks. I am hoping to break THAT pattern.

Today, I made three cards.

The first was with my new Simply Scrappin' Winter Retreat kit from Stampin' Up! If there's one thing we have all agreed upon in the SU! circle in which I hang, it is that the new catalog has fantastic papers. I think these kits get overlooked. They, too, have a great mix of papers. Typically, they have been single-sided, but the paper with this pack is double-sided. The kits also come with great cardstock stickers. Everything coordinates. So, everything on this card, except for the Bordering Blue base, was included with the kit. This card is an anniversary card for a friend.

The next two cards are birthday cards. One is for my nephew, the other for my niece. Both are late (yikes). How awesome do the filigree brads look on my niece's card? Love them! And the Manchester and Maine Blueberry papers were so fun to work with. I am loving the SU! On Your Birthday stamp set, especially the one that says "(a little late)." How totally me right now.


Speaking of stamp sets... yeah to SU! for FINALLY die cutting some sets in the regular catalog. On Your Birthday has twelve stamps, and, typically, that would have taken me forever to cut and mount. It may have taken 5 minutes, tops. Such a helpful thing!

Summer

OK, I am going to ramble.

I have no card today. Mainly, it has been one crazy, hectic week. School is starting, and on Friday I found out that I would have a classroom position - fourth grade. I had been planning for a reading interventionist job with K-2 until Friday evening. I am THRILLED for the fourth grade position, but this week has been absolutely NUTS. The children will come tomorrow, ready or not. I am ready to meet them. They are so much smaller than the sixth graders I taught for 8 years.

I am sad to see summer go. I really adore fall, but this summer was different. This summer was my goal. After my leave of absence last winter, when I returned at the end of February, summer vaca was the light at the end of my tunnel. I knew I could make it to summer.

Now, that beacon is losing its radiance. School begins again for us all. May I keep the same perspective that I had at the end of last year! My family and my health need to be top priority.

I will try. Cardmaking was my one daily therapy. I am hoping that it will come back in full swing. I will try my best.

Seize the Sketch Winner!

The winner of the Seize the Sketch Contest is Bev!

Her card can be found here.

Thanks to those who took a peek and those who played.

I am a little slow in crafting this week, as I learned on Friday that I will be teaching fourth grade starting THIS Thursday. It's a little hectic around here, but I'll get back into my groove once the craziness ends. Wait... maybe once it slows.

Freshly Cut Thanks

Today's Sketch Challenge, as shown, was one with a lot of different options. I chose to make it a thank-you card by rotating the sketch. Last night at Karen's catalog open house, I won a door prize-- SU! Fresh Cuts stamp set. Woo hoo! So, I thought I would put it and some newer cardstock (also thanks to Karen's open house) to use.

I have to say, this looks like a simple card, but I went through more cardstock than I would have liked before i came upon my final card. Based on yesterday's and today's card, I would have to say the new SU! Pacific Point is a color that I enjoy. I joined it with SU! Baja Breeze (also new) and SU! So Saffron (or Barely Banana... who really knows?). I stamped the sentiment in Craft White and the image in Pacific Point. I also wanted a more rounded feel to the card, so out came my punches! Part of my cardstock issue was that I was trying to use my Fiskars scallop scissors, but it just wouldn't come out the way I envisioned tonight.

After adding the ribbon, I decided more texture was needed, so out came the bling. In all, I think it's simple, but fits the challenge quite well.

I Crack Myself Up, Card 1

OK, so I decided that I would have some crazy, ignorant fun with making cards. It's the only way to adequately get through the end of summer, you know?


I just got a few new Bellas (7 to be exact), and, after cutting them out on the foam backing, I could not get past looking at this one (craftybella) and thinking of the stinking Mad TV skit to which Karen and Krystal introduced me. Here is a You Tube version if you are looking at the card and thinking I am becoming a serial killer.

Enjoy!

Go JoLynn, It's Your Birthday!

Read all about it, if you wish, on my family blog. Good times!

Square Spring Card

I have been meaning to try this fold for quite some time. So, when today's SCS Technique Challenge was to create a "square spring card," I knew I had to give it a try. Honestly, it was pretty easy. We were provided a clear tutorial by shulsart.

I have to say, Stampin' Up! has some smart marketing. I hadn't given Porcelain Prints even a blink until it was being retired. I cannot believe I missed this lovely paper.

My "natural light" Ott-Lite finally said, "Adios." I need a new bulb. Good thing I have a 40% off Hobby Lobby coupon! I love that light, and, obviously, I leave it on way too much. So, today's picture is with my ol' flash on my Nikon. It's the best I could do.

Size (for envelope): 5.5 x 5.5 inches

Stamps: Friendship Sentiments (MSE!) and Mixed Bouquet (SU!)

Ink: Floral background - SU! Bordering Blue; Sentiment - SU! Buckaroo Blue

Paper: SU! Porcelain Prints and Whisper White

Accessories: Spare Parts brads, SU! Blue Bayou double-stitched ribbon