Quick and Dirty!

Alas, our month of crazy traveling is behind us! We had a wonderful time, but we are ready to stay home and do some serious nesting.

After our cruise and trip to Orlando, we just returned from Loveland, Colorado. I experienced snow for the first time in decades - nice to look at, but I sure wouldn't want to live in it again. Tropical gal, here!

Since we just returned and Halloween is tomorrow (EEEEKK!), I got up early to knock out a few quick cards. I turned to one of my go-to companies, Graphic 45, for some great paper and put these two cards together. Simple. No stamping! While I am not a big fan of Halloween, I sure love the cute images associated with it.


I can't wait to have time to return to my crafting and checking in on all of your wonderful blogs. In a few days, when the laundry basket is empty, the fridge is full, the bills are paid and the dust settles, I plan to return to lots of crafty fun. I have missed you all and missed my inky fingers.

P.S.:  Stay safe in Sandy's path and "Yay, Giants"!

Visiting the guys with big ears.....

Yes, after returning from our wonderful cruise, Gary and I headed to Orlando for a fun-packed week at Disney World with some of our dearest friends. Amazing what fun we old guys can have at a place like that! It was fantastic!

Now, with barely time to get the laundry done again and switch from shorts and swimsuits to jackets and gloves, we are heading to Loveland, Colorado (it has already snowed there). That's where we will see our second set of ears.

Gary's brother Frank is starring in a local production of the show "Harvey" (yep, that's the one Jimmy Stewart did with the big rabbit). That is Frank on the right, without the ears. We can't wait.

So, with all of this travel fun this month, there are just no cards to share.

Here we are enjoying a visit to "Japan" in Epcot Center, and Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando.

I do miss my crafting pals and blogging buddies - can't wait to catch up with you all when the dust settles and the home fires are burning.

Thanks for checking in!

A Rolling Stone

gathers no embossing powder!

We have been home only a few days and we are off on our next adventure. It is all good - this just happens to be a big traveling time at our house.

This is a shot I took as our cruise ship went under the Golden Gate Bridge - what a spectacular event! It gave me goosebumps! 

I miss crafting, blogging and checking in with all of you, but we are having such fun. Take care and I will be back as soon as I can.

Maureen

Celebrating Fifteen and Bon Voyage!

Last week (while many of you were at Scrapfest!) Gary and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. Now, I know that 15 years isn't much compared to many of you, but it is a milestone for us (like my pal Robin, we can't wait for our 40th to celebrate).

Each of us waited patiently for decades until we found our perfect match. I had actually given up on the idea of marriage and was quite happy and fulfilled as a single gal.

We finally met when we were in our mid-40's. It was as if we had known each other all our lives - similar backgrounds, values, personalities. I thought we would be best pals, but Gary had other ideas!

Some were concerned that we had each been so independent for so long that we would find marriage difficult, but we celebrate every single day - laughing, supporting and loving! Our only regret is that we don't get to have grandkids, but Gary has blessed me with the BEST extended family and dear friends who are like family. It is all good and just keeps getting better.

I love this Penny Black stamp (Tom & Tilly) because you don't see the faces, so it really could be US! I paper-pieced it to represent the clothes that we wear. The perfect inside sentiment is Technique Tuesday by Ali Edwards (I love her work!). That brilliance is from shiny Candi embellishments.

Thanks so much for checking in. We are heading out for special anniversary cruise, so I will be unplugged for a few of weeks - I'll miss you all! Happy crafting!

In olden days, a glimpse of stocking.......

I am a huge fan of live musical theater. I recently won the chance for a "walk-on role" in the production of "Anything Goes" - I got a great costume and two lines! I had a total blast with it!

With Liz Brenna Strycker, my mentor

With Howard Stateman

While I am a real ham and love performing, I am not at all good at rote memory (I never did master my multiplication tables!), so I can't really be a serious performer.

But when I get a chance like this, I am in my glory! Here I am with a couple of the real actors, Howard and Liz, who were both so talented and sweet.

The producer and the entire cast were so amazingly supportive and kind that I wanted to make them some thank-you cards. Since the theme of the show is a cruise ship in the 1920's, I chose that same theme for my cards.


I used Hero Arts E2493, Cloche Hat, which is perfect for the 1920's and CL371 with Die-namics "Just the Ticket" in this collage-style card. Some kraft and travel-themed pattern papers and some hand-dyed seam binding tie it all together.

Because this design incorporates movement, I am submitting it to the Moxie Fab World movement challenge, based on some of the tips in the great Card Design Handbook.

Thanks again to the South Bay Musical Theater for giving me this chance and for being so gracious and fun! Love you guys.

Thanks for looking in and break a leg!

Housekeeping!

We have a dear friend who just loves to vacuum (I know, give her your address, right?). So when I saw this Stampendous stamp (CRV173 - Chanito Vacuum) on sale at my local scrapbook store I had to grab it. And I dug out some remaining scraps of chevron printed paper from my SSS April Card Kit in response to the current SSS challenge "We're So Trendy".

Those who know me know that trendy is the last thing that I am.....I am so stuck in the 1950's and 1960's that I probably drive you all nuts. But, I am seriously trying!

It is colored with Copic pens, the sentiment is Hero Arts CL487 and the trim is a recent thrift store find. 

Thanks so much for looking - hope you are having a grand week!

Another Terrific Tuesday Trigger

Whew! I got back home from a week of road trip fun just in time to post my entry in Cath's wonderful Tuesday Trigger. I love this picture so much - it gave me so many ideas for great cards.

Even though I have been resisting the hexagon trend, I used a new Spellbinders M-Bossibilities embossing folder that has hexagons on one side and a chevron pattern on the other side. Too trendy, eh?

Also used some great Basic Grey paper (Infuse), Memory Box Meridian Boarder die, Hero Arts CL148 and Frame Cuts label die.

After I tackle a truckload of laundry and deal with lots of mail and phone calls I will attempt to catch up on all of your lovely blogs & projects - I've missed you all!

Thanks, Cath - you did it again!

Retro Fun!

The current picture perfect challenge at Paper Smooches Sparks is this yummy photo. Love the mid-century modern look!

As many of you know, my house is a 1950's rancher and we decorate with lots of mid-century fun things.




 I decided to combine this with Cath's Card Design Handbook  "Repetition Challenge" over at Moxie Fab World.

For this one-layer card I used Paper Smooches "Boob Tubes" and "Hip to be Square" stamp sets, Copic pens and masking.


I just bought some Ranger Super Fine Detail embossing powder, but I am finding it very difficult to work with. Anyone else having problems?

There may not be enough contrast between the background and the first tv, but I really wanted to keep this card flat.

Thanks for checking in - I am off on another adventure, so I will be "unplugged" for about a week. I miss you all already!

 

Do they really mean ANYTHING?

The current challenge at Simon Says Stamp is "Anything Goes" featuring Hero Arts stamps. Well, I decided that this is a great opportunity to toss "clean and simple" out the window and have some great and crafty fun!

I made a collage card with one of my all-time favorite Hero Arts stamps (love the vintage graphic and the hip sentiment!) and some found/saved treasures. The retro-star embossing folder sets it all off. Don't even want to think about postage for this baby! There are always hundreds of entries for this challenge, but I am determined!

Have a great day!

Focal Point with Fins

The other day I spoke about mermaid cards and I realized that it had been too long since I made one. So I took advantage of Cath's "Focal Point Challenge" over at Moxie Fab World (if you don't have that "Card Design Handbook", get your hands on it!) and got busy.

I decided to use a "center step card" format to really highlight the main focal point, my adorable mermaid from Stampendous.

Isn't she glorious? No clean and simple girl here! Lots of color, glitter and embellishments! The sentiment is Hero Arts CL 490. The great patterned paper is from Authentique. Love it!

This card went out to a very special pal.

Thanks for looking and have a swimmingly  delightful day!