Singing in the Rain

It poured yesterday, it rained more today, and tomorrow it is going to snow. So much for that "in like a lion, out like a lamb" thing.

Linda's May/June theme in the 'Hood is posted, so I figured I may as well make it. I don't know why I did not work on the swaps that are due sooner, especially as I know exactly what I am going to do with them, but that is the way it works sometimes. 

Ok, so back to Linda...
She wanted us to "make a card that represents some activity you love to do outdoors", I assume in the summer. 

As you may or may not know, I am allergic to the sun. I spend all summer in long sleeves and capri pants; No shorts and tee shirts for me... except when it rains. I love those overcast days!

I am sure Riley is singing as he stomps in those puddles; I know I would be.


 






I do not think I have ever done this before, but I am entering this card in multiple challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches (#179) - Thank you for the sketch
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog (#144) - Create Your Own Background (not only the trees; if you look closely, you can see the yellow panel is streaked to simulate rain falling - did you notice it is falling in the same direction as the drops in the image?)
Crafting When I Can (#90) - Favorite Hobby or Activity




Card Details:

Image: Riley and Company, Cover-a-Card

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: Hammermill, GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities, Cover-a-Card

Embellies: unknown ribbon

Late (Again)

Yesterday marked a holiday that I, not so much celebrate, but observe every year; I call it "Dagnabbit! I forgot my BILs birthday AGAIN!" His birthday is March 2, but I never think of it til March 3. (Well, except last year. Last year I was actually on time!)

Recently I have been thinking about this large box of card kits in my closet, and that I should go through them and create. I saw this snail who is perfect for a belated birthday card. 

Tuesday Morning Sketches #290), created this adorable layout and the card kit provided the rest. (I would have preferred the snail to be green, but could not find a marker combo to coordinate with the designer paper.)

These little guys are happy to be on their way to Florida, where they will be much warmer (and drier)










Card Details:

Image: unknown

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, unknown dp

Ink: unknown
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities

Embellies: unknown ribbon

New Life

Let me start by saying I love, love, love, Love, LOVE this theme!

Every once in a while a swap is posted that really gets my imagination flowing, and I cannot wait to jump in. Even then, though, the card I create seldom translates from brain to paper the way I envision. But this time, this theme, this sketch, this card, embodies that rare moment when it all comes together perfectly.

Maryann is our hostess this time around in the 'Hood. And by this time around, I mean for March/April (I have gotten rather ahead of myself in the card-making department). Here is what she wrote: "March and April remind me that spring is coming. Along with spring comes new life: of grass, the gardens, flowers, the baby deer, all the new baby chicks, and all the creatures of this earth. Let's make a card for a new life. It could be a baby card, flowers in bloom, etc. Let your imagination run wild. Have fun!"
Immediately I knew what stamp set to use, and as soon as I saw Tuesday Morning Sketches (#286), it all came together in my mind. All that was left was to get it out onto (into?) paper.

Card Details:

Image: SU

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: SU punch(es), MFT die (grass)

Embellies: Unknown ribbon

Whipper Snapper in Color

Once again, Barb is hosting her Whipper Snapper (or Penny Black, but I did not join that one) swap. This time around, we are to use our favorite color combo for crafting. For me, that depends on my mood, the stamp, or what catches my eye at any given moment. My newest WS stamp (that I have not already used in a previous swap with Barb) is a flamingo, so on the day I created this card, my favorite color combo was pink, more pink, and a little pink for variety's sake.

Card Details:

Image: Whipper Snapper

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabilities

Embellies: Generic ribbon

Let's Get Naught-y!

I have to admit, it was not until I was checking the exact title of the Sisterhood's March/April theme, that I realized the Jan./Feb. theme had one, too! I only saw the nautical part of the theme, not the naught-y part in the title. Mine clearly does not have that last twist, as I made a Sympathy card. Oops Fortunately, this month's hostess, Kelly, was happy with what I made.

I did not realize the challenge blog where I got this sketch was defunct until after I had made my card. I have since deleted it from my bookmarks, so I cannot even give them credit. My apologies; I never really expected I would get around to blogging it. (2/20/14 Edited to add: Hold the presses! I found it. The sketch came from Sketch N Stash Challenge Blog. I found it while looking for the hostess of the sketch challenge for the card in my next post. Yes, usually I do save these things, but again, never really believed I would blog it)







Card Details:

Image: Love You to Bits

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, SU

Ink: Memento
Coloring: N/A

Tools: Reinkers, alcohol

Embellies: Generic baker's twine, unknown brads

Sweet Sixteen

Princess A had a birthday yesterday. 

Birthday cake for breakfast! Carrot cake is healthy, isn't it?

 My baby is SIXTEEN!
 






















Her bedroom is a shrine to Ross Lynch (she says it is for the band 'R5' as a whole, but 99.999999999% of the pics are of Ross), she loves designing and programming the lighting for Drama Club, and she takes just about every possible dance class available at the studio (she even teaches a few classes to the younger set). She is funny, smart, goofy, loving, sarcastic, an absolute slob, original, creative... and I just adore her!

Her birthday card is purple again this year. I say again, even though you have no way of knowing as I did not blog it last year; but I realized because I only just now got around to photographing last years card to post on Facebook.

Tuesday Morning Sketches (#288), as is so often the case, was my inspiration. I still have not figured out whether the dragon is lighting the candles on purpose, or just struggling to blow them out.






Card Details:

Image: Newton's Nook, SU

Sentiment: SU

Cardstock: GP, unknown

Ink: Memento
Coloring: Copics

Tools: Nestabillities, SU punches

Embellies: Unknown brads, generic pop-dots

Fourteen Things?

Last year, in early January, I started a series of 13 Things in 2013. It was a pledge to myself to try 13 new things during the year. You may have then noticed there were very few posts with this label. I  did do 13 new things in 2013, but many of them were very difficult, emotional and private, and not experiences I care to share publicly. Yes, positive, fun and happy things happened too, but my main focus was elsewhere and therefore they never made it to my blog. 

The big question now is, do I start a 14 Things in 2014 series? Last years promise did not seem to work out so well, after all. The title does not flow off the tongue in quite the same way either. Instead I will make it Do More in Two Thousand Four(teen). Crossing my fingers that this will turn out to mean more fun, more adventures, more excitement (in a good way). More cards, and quilts and maybe I will even finish that knitting project started oh so long ago... 

And, hopefully, more blogging