Hi everyone … it’s been awhile, a long while, since I posted artwork!

But I came across this new CTMH Blog yesterday and was inspired to make a card! I have a lot of stuff to actually post, I just don’t have pictures of it all yet! Oops! So, I’ll start here.

This new blog is called Heart 2 Heart Challenges. You should definitely check it out!

This is my submission for the current challenge (just getting in under the 7pm PST/10pm EST deadline buzzer).

I made the background piece out of Chocolate and did the faux croc leather technique. I also used the CTMH stamp set Treasures and CTMH bling. The other colors are Sunflower and Sweet Leaf – the only non-CTMH piece is the wide ribbon!

Enjoy!

I know Amanda, I missed a week! So sorry! I posted 2 tonight though, so hopefully that makes up for you!

I promise to do better in the future!

This is the 2nd card I made for Mom for her Birthday. She loves pink! It worked!

Enjoy!

I am on permanent “commission” with my Dad to make 3 cards a year for him to give my Mom (Valentine’s Day, Birthday and Anniversary). Yesterday was Mom’s birthday and all of us spent the day in the Tri-Cities going to the Benton Franklin County Fair and Rodeo. More on the rodeo in a later post!

I saw this card on the Split Coast Stampers site and thought it was a good card to make for Dad. The tutorial for it is really easy and located here.

I used the CTMH Bella papers and colored paper flowers. In fact, everything on this card is CTMH, down to the rub ons on the front of the pot!

Enjoy!

This isn’t the card that I was going to post earlier in the week. I was going to finish that card this week and never did, and now I’m not happy with it and am starting over. This card was made from a kit of stuff that I got from somewhere … not sure where … But it’s all pink, and I love pink!

Enjoy!

Amanda – I have 1 hour and 38 minutes before this week is over, so I’ve held my bargain so far! (PS – My week goes from Monday-Sunday).

I actually MADE this card TODAY! And it came fairly easy to boot! Crazy.

I used the That’s Amore paper pack from CTMH and the stamps are CTMH as well!

Enjoy!

Here’s a card that I made in May! Just a simple Thank You card!

Amanda – 4 for 4!

Enjoy!

Well, I arrived in Waikiki yesterday around Noon-ish. I’ve just been killing time since then. I found the Condo I’m staying at, unpacked, found a grocery store (whoa, can you say expensive!!!) and made some dinner and chilled.

I was in bed early, and therefore, woke up at about 5:45am this morning. Ugh! LOL Oh well.

It rained off and on yesterday afternoon. This picture was taken just a few minutes ago off my lanai! Plans for today … track down the scrapbook store (it doesn’t op until 11) do a little shopping, and walk down to the beach! My friends come in later tonight.

I did finally make a card! It’s similar to one that I posted in the early days of my blog. One of our farmer’s was digging up their spuds this week and we had made plans to go gleen his field when he was done (there are tons of potatoes left on top of the dirt when they are done harvesting – and as long as the farmer doesn’t care, you can go pick them up). Well, he called to tell us he was digging and to send a truck out and he’d just fill up the truck for us! It was pretty cool – they just moved the combine boom right over the bed of the truck and dropped a load for us!!! So, we of course needed a Thank You card.

It was pretty easy and straight forward.

Hope everyone has a great week!!! I will!

… is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.

I love that saying. I made this card a couple of weeks ago. These are the colors that I’m really feeling these days. They are pretty fall-ish I suppose, butso pretty together.

I hope you all had a great 4th of July. It was a fairly quiet weekend for me. I did happen to snap this picture the night of the 4th on our way out to see the fireworks! I think it really turned out very cool! (There’s no editing here, I don’t know how to do that … yet … I am the proud owner of this
book though, so hopefully soon I’ll figure it out!)

WOW! I almost missed it! 40 minutes to spare! It’s been a busy Holiday for me and finally just turned my computer on about 10 minutes ago. It’s still quite loud in my neighborhood, and since I’ve been up since 5am, I’m really hoping things will slow down soon!

Anyway, I started my Blog one year ago today!!! WOOHOO!!! And for all you Americans – I hope you had a great 4th of July!!!

So, since I last posted, I also had a Birthday last weekend. I turned 33! To celebrate, I did this:

For those that know me, they know this means I cut a good 10-12 inches off my hair! Talk about crazy. I’m happy with the a-line cut I have now though, it’s just taking a bit of getting used to. I’m still having major shampoo issues – as in I’m trying to use way too much!!! LOL

I also bought myself a new car about 3 weeks ago – a new 2008 Ford Escape! I LOVE IT!

So, there’s all the catch up on me!

Here are the last 3 cards from the Thank You card kit I made at my Retreat a couple of weekends ago!

Stay tuned in the next couple of days – I’ll be throwing out some Blog Candy to celebrate a few things – my new car, my Birthday, my Blogoversary AND I see I’ve gone over 15,000 hits!!! Have a great weekend everyone!

Here are some more of the Thank You cards I made – I made a total of 6 using all the same papers! So, there are more to come as the week goes on! Enjoy!

Supplies:
Bazzill Cardstock
Basic Grey Sugared
Misc CTMH stamps
Misc CTMH accessories and Ink
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder

Well, I got back last night from my Retreat! I’d really been looking forward to it for awhile – I was hoping to find some of my Mojo that I’ve seemingly lost for card making and scrapbooking.

Imagine my surprise to hear that people DO think I have an obligation to post more on my Blog! Several of my friends feel that I’m severely lacking in that obligation lately (and yes, I’m speaking specifically to you and you). With that said, I will make an REAL effort to post at least 2-3 times a week. I hoping that this weekend has given me some inspiration to stay motivated for awhile.

I actually got a lot done this week – by my standards anyway. I got a Thank You card set done (pictures to follow) and I started and completed my scrapbook for the Grand Cayman trip I took last May (13 months ago, not 1 month ago). It’s 18 pages, and I was thrilled to be done with it.

I really, really love these Retreats. It’s so great to get together with these people each year. I’ve really become friends with them, and it’s like no time has passed at all when we get together. We have such great fun! Thanks Deb and Jane for doing these – I know they are a lot of work, but they are so much fun!

And I’d like to introduce a new member to the blogging community – our friend Donna FINALLY started a blog! You can find her over at Close to my Blog! She’s a CTMH Consultant too (my upline), and a great friend!

Here’s part of the Thank you Card set I made this weekend! I’ll post the rest of the cards as the week goes on – there are 6 cards total!

The envelope was made using a 6×6 page protector. I don’t know who created this template, but a CTMH Consultant came up with this several years ago and I came across it on my computer and thought I would finally use it! It’s held closed with a velcro dot. I used Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey Sugared papers, misc CTMH embellishments, misc CTMH stamps, and Barn Red and Olive Green ink.

And just for fun, does anyone wonder how much one person needs to take on a 3 day scrapbooking Retreat? Well, this is how much I brought home! You see, I came home with MORE stuff than I left with because of three, no, make that FOUR, trips to craft/scrapbook stores this weekend. And this doesn’t include my personal stuff, snacks, and my dogs and all their stuff for Boarding. And of course, I didn’t use half of it – but it’s a good thing I brought it, cause Donna used what I didn’t!

Well, I’ve been practicing this for awhile now (click on the picture for more info):

My friend Melissa posted about this a few entries ago on her Blog. It really struck a cord. I hate the feeling of HAVING to post. And lately, I just haven’t felt the Mojo.

I had a stamp party last weekend though so had to come up with something! These are the 2 cards I came up with:

The “Thanks” card is a complete and total CASE of Kelly Jo’s card here. I love it so much and just had to copy it.

The “Happy Everything” card is using the new Sarsparilla papers from CTMH, the Bitty Brads, Cocoa ribbon, and the June SOTM. I also used my new Oval Nestabilities! The sketch came from Michelle at Mish Mash.

While I’m in a sharing mood, I’ll show my new ribbon rack in all it’s glory that my Dad built me. I’ve had it for awhile, just never go around to taking a picture of it. It’s pretty much full already. Go figure!

Now, on to something a lot less craft related. It’s going to be a bit Political, so if you aren’t into that, please feel free to stop reading now. I just want to say that I’m completely happy that the Primary Season is finally over. Now hopefully we can get on with this election and elect a new President who can change the direction that our country is heading. I have to say, pulling into the gas station and seeing $4.10 a gallon for gas, $4.20 for a gallon of milk, not to mention the price of rice and other groceries these days is more than a little disheartening.

That all being said, this is who I choose to support:

I would encourage EVERY person who is eligible to vote this year, to be informed on the candidates, and make a choice this Fall. Most importantly, VOTE – it doesn’t matter who you vote for, just VOTE. It’s the only way our voices can be heard. I know there are people out there who don’t think that their votes matter – but that’s simply not true. Living in a state where the last Governor race came down to 133 votes out of 2.8 million+ cast – I guarantee you – every vote counts!

For anyone who wants a free Obama sticker (like the picture I posted above), Move On is giving away free ones here.

Ok, enough on that – that’s about the most Political I’ll get, promise!

I’ll also try to be better about posting a couple of times a week. I’m getting in gear to get some major scrapbooking done. I had a bunch of pictures printed at Costco last night in preparation of a Scrapbook Retreat I’m going to in less than 2 weeks! And the weekend of the 28th I’ll be going to a crop on Friday night till the wee hours of the night/morning. I’m really looking forward to both events and getting some mojo back!

Take care and have a great weekend everyone!