Rest Stop from the Road Trips

Hello my friends and blogging buddies! I've missed you.

We are home for only a couple of days between road trips - to do laundry, read mail, do some yard maintenance, etc. We'll be back on the road before we know it. Logging in lots of miles.

I quickly put together this card (I've missed my crafting time!) for the current Paper Smooches Sparks challenge "Anything Goes".  The hungry gator actually took a bite out of the card. He sure looks guilty. Silly, eh?

Unfortunately, I will not get to checking in on your blogs for another couple of weeks. I can't wait to see the paper magic you've created.

Until then, I sure hope you are having a fabulous summer - happy trails!

Zumba!

A friend who is in my Zumba class is having a birthday. She and I are on a similar weightloss/ health/fitness journey (and doing well, thanks!). 

This is the fun card I made her using Art Impressions stamps and some great My Minds Eye paper. Makes me want to dance! The inside says "Keep Calm and ZUMBA On!"

I am submitting this to Art Impressions current "Twine Time" Challenge. Check it out and play along!

Thanks for looking in - hope you are having a wonderful week.

Stamps: Art Impressions - Golden Oldies Party Group, UMU1552; Girlfriends, UMF3572
Paper: My Minds Eye - Indie Chic, Saffron

Grand Dame

I am crazy for Art Impressions stamps and I try to play their challenges when I can. The current one is to use flowers - at least five of them - in a card. I just got this cute and sassy Zoo Crew Elephant Set (4191) and knew it would be perfect for a twisted easel card.

She's got flowers on her dress and on her hat and I embellished the card with flowers I made with some yummy felt I got from "My Favorite Things" and their Die-Damics Mini Rolled Roses Die.

Yep, another one that is slightly over the top, eh?


I sure hope your week is going well!

Thanks for the visit!

Stamps: Art Impressions Zoo Crew, "Elephant Set"; Hero Arts "Sending Love"

Dies: Spellbinders Circles, Die-Namics Mini Rolled Roses", Sizzix "Flowers and Leaves", Hero Arts "Small Tag Frame"

Paper: My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found - Blush" 6 x 6 pad

Felt: My Favorite Things

Window Under the Ocean

We returned from our 4th of July adventure early because it was just too stinkin' hot - but we had lots of fun. I didn't mind because I had been thinking about the challenge at Paper Smooches Sparks featuring this glorious underwater photo.

So, okay - maybe the heat got to me. Clean and simple this is NOT! But I had so much fun. It has been years since I made a diorama card. I had to sharpen my math and fussy cutting skills!


This card is three layers of oceanic goodness. The top panel is the shore, with some real sand (thanks, Hubby!). The center panel has an acetate window to allow for the 3-D effect of the fishes swimming around - and there is a rusty old anchor submerged in the sand. The back panel has the super-friendly whale saying "Huge Thanks".

This is difficult to photograph, so I hope you can understand and see it. It even folds flat for mailing!

Thanks for splashing by and have a wonderful week!
Stamps: Paper Smooches - Surf and Turf, Wicked Nauticool

A Red, White and Blue Birthday

I have a dear friend who shares a birthday with our country! Yep, she was born on the 4th of July, making her a Yankee-Doodle Dandy.

I made her this star-spangled card using Tim Holtz's Birthday Blueprint. I especially love these stamps because they bring back memories of the years I studied architecture.

I paper pieced it using scraps from my bin and added some glitter pens, brads, Stickles, some stick-on stars and a Hero Arts sentiment (Many Birthday Messages). Love that glittery red paper!

Looks like I still have time to enter this in the Simon Says Stamp "Anything Goes" Challenge, so I shall.

We are headed out for another week. I have switched to Feedly with the demise of Google Reader (but I also have a sidebar button for bloglovin') - I'll see you there and then!

Happy 4th to my USA readers and Happy Canada Day! And blessings to you all.