Dude

Ok, so it's been brought to my attention that I like to use the words "Dude" and "you rock" in combination a lot on my cards. What can I say? I have a strong preference for boy cards and I'll admit I'm guilty of sprinkling my daily conversation with "dude" quite frequently....so it seems appropriate!! So, in keeping with that trend, I realized that I never shared one of my favorite Verve cards that I made a few months ago. What!? I know, right? (at least, I don't think I shared it - I'm not finding it in my archives under the "Verve" label. There's a small chance I could have forgot to label it. It IS my birthday today, the 26th, and I AM getting pretty old, so give me a break if I'm pulling a crazy on ya and you've already seen this). So here ya go...


Stamps: Dude (Verve)
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White (SU); printed paper by Scenic Route
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip (SU)
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Ric-Rac from stash; Sizzix Hearts & Brackets die (SU); Corkboard; Sewing Machine

A Little Digi Scrapping

It's been a looooong time since I posted any digital scrapbooking layouts and I thought I'd share a few of the layouts I've been working on this summer. It's my goal to finish up Dean's first and 2nd year photobooks before the end of this year - so I have A LOT of scrapping to do in the next several months!! I've been doing a lot of baby pages lately with a few current layouts thrown in every now and then too in an attempt to not get too far behind on our current photobooks either. So anyway, here are some layouts - credits are listed below each layout. I'm not going to provide links for each product (that would just take way too long), but at the end of the post I'll provide a link to each of the stores where the products can be found - you should be able to do a quick keyword search at those stores and easily find any of the products you're interested in. Or if you have any trouble, feel free to leave me a comment and I'll help you out!!

These first 3 layouts are actually for this month's Scrappy Sunday Challenge Group over at Papercraft Planet - I host this fun scrapbook sketch challenge group each month and we've made lots of fun changes!! If you're a scrapper (digi OR paper) be sure to check it out!! Each month you get 4 new sketches (4 FREE layered templates for you digi scrappers!!) to play with and at the end of the month, we pick a random winner from all of the participants who completed all 4 layouts before the end of the month to win a fabulous prize!! This month, the digi winner will get a $20 gift certificate to Libby Weifenbach's store at Sweet Shoppe Designs!! We'll also be picking a Traditional / Paper winner who will receive a Grab Bag of paper goodies in the mail worth at least $25! Come play along with us!! You can download the free templates in the group and you still have the rest of this week to play along with the July challenges!

Click on any of the images to see them larger and read the journaling...

9 out of 10 Doctors Agree by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)
Font is DJB All the Cool Chicks by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)
Template is from May Flowers by Connie Prince (Gotta Pixel)

Boom Boom Clap by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)
Font is DJB LIzzy Fizzed Out (Sweet Shoppe)
Template by Jen Tapler for Scrappy Sunday Challenge (Papercraft Planet

Boom Boom Clap by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)
Font is DJB LIzzy Fizzed Out (Sweet Shoppe)
Template by Jen Tapler for Scrappy Sunday Challenge (Papercraft Planet)

Dandelion Fluff by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe)
Bad Sewing Machine IV Don't Be A Square by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe)
Font is DJB Lizzy Fizzed Out by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)
Glitter is from Winter Wishes by Zoe Pearn (Sweet Shoppe)
On the Go Templates by Connie Prince (Gotta Pixel)

Dandelion Fluff by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe)
In My Garden Templates by Connie Prince (Gotta Pixel)
Bad Sewing Machine IV Don't Be A Square by Traci Reed (Sweet Shoppe)
Font is DJB Lizzy Fizzed Out by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)
Glitter is from Winter Wishes by Zoe Pearn (Sweet Shoppe)

Kitschy Sweet by Traci Reed & Scrapkitchen Designs (Sweet Shoppe)
Paperclips Alpha Stitches template by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)
Font is DJB Constance Beauregard by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)
Template from Cindy's Template Pack #14 by Cindy Schneider (Sweet Shoppe)

Wonderous kit & clusters by Julie Billingsley (Sweet Shoppe)
Chippy Alpha by Shawna Clingerman (Sweet Shoppe)

Happy Go Lucky by Zoe Pearn (Sweet Shoppe)
Paper Clips Alpha Stitches by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)
DJB Keys to the Executive Washroom Font Pack by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)
All Decked Out template pack by Connie Prince (Gotta Pixel)
My Four Hens Photography Actions

Cindy's Layered Templates #44 by Cindy Schneider (Sweet Shoppe)
ABC-123 by Melissa Bennett (Sweet Shoppe)
Oodles of Tags 2 by Julie Billingsley (Sweet Shoppe)
Font is DJB Constance Beauregard by Darcy Baldwin (Sweet Shoppe)
Alpha - Paper Clips Alpha Stitches Template by Libby Weifenbach (Sweet Shoppe)

That's it!! You can find the majority of the products I used on these layouts at Sweet Shoppe Designs (I'm on their Hybrid Creative Team). I also used a few templates by Connie Prince, who has a store at Gotta Pixel. Hopefully the stampers and cardmakers don't mind my sharing a little bit of my other hobby here today. I always find it a little weird that everytime I post digi layouts it never fails that I get at least a few unsubscribes because "content is no longer relevant". It always makes me chuckle a little bit. Really people? Are you that much of a papercrafting snob?? So yeah, none of you better unsubscribe today!!! LOL. If you were thinking of it, at least wait a few days and then put something like "subscribing using a different method". I mean, why not just lie and put that anyway, even if it's because the content is not longer relevant. It's the nice thing to do I always think. ;-)

Happy Birthday Julee!!

That's right. As you've probably guessed by now, it's our fearless leader's birthday today. And in case I wasn't loud enough with that graphic, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULEE!!! (hee hee). As you can see above, the Verve Divas and a few Verve fans got together to surprise Julee this morning with this special Blog Hop. If you just stumbled onto my blog, you may want to head over to the Verve Blog and start at the beginning - there's LOTS of fabulous inspiration you won't want to miss!! And then when you're done here, the next stop on the hop is my fellow Verve Diva Jackie Pedro!

When I started thinking about creating a special Birthday card for Julee, I naturally pulled out one of my all-time favorite Verve sets, Happy Days. I mean, if I'm sending Julee a card and little gifty from Maui - it might as well have a fun surfer girl flair, right?


I wanted to make the card at least a little bit girly since it's for Julee (which is always hard for me - I don't do girly well), so I decided to use some girly colors (translation: there's some pink in there). The papers are printed digi papers from the new Alphabet Soup for Girls kit by Zoe Pearn (Sweet Shoppe). I took my cardstock, ink & ribbons colors from those papers. I paper-pieced the hibiscus flowers, which was actually easier than I anticipated and used about a gazillion dimensionals on the card to give it lots and lots of depth. Oh, and the layout? I dug up an old Sweet Sunday Sketch by Karen Giron for that.

I do have a fun little gift package I'm mailing to Julee tomorrow. Yeah, yeah. I know that means she won't get it until about a week after her actual birthday - but see, that was all part of my genius plan. This way, her birthday just gets to last that much longer!! (or something like that...LOL). In reality, it took me awhile to build up my courage to set foot inside Maui's ginormous Sanrio store to pick out a little somethin' somethin' for the birthday girl (just act surprised when it looks like a certain little cartoon cat from Japan puked all over your little gift box Julee!!). Oh man, that place is SCARY. I've still got the heebie jeebies. {shiver}. Oh, and don't go getting your panties in a wad about this Julee and saying I shouldn't have done it - it's not THAT exciting of a gift!! ;-) But seriously, Happy Birthday girl. We love ya!!

And for everyone else, you might want to head on over to Jackie's Blog and see what amazing eye candy she has to share with us, she's the next stop on the hop. I'm sure we won't be disappointed!!

Sweet Sunday Sketch #79

I'm just gonna cut to the chase because I'm barely getting this thing done before the deadline for posting my sample (shhh! Don't tell Karen)!! It's Sunday. You know the drill...Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge time. Here's this week's sketch:


I made a few slight changes to my hybrid card:


I used the adorable new Momma's Boy kit by Melissa Bennett (Sweet Shoppe) for my printed digi papers and embellishments, adding a stamped sentiment from the Say it with Style set (PTI) and a few buttons. It was really a super quick and easy card to throw together (good thing too, since I waited until the VERY last minute this week!! LOL).

Be sure to check out the other Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs and see what they've done with the sketch.

• Karen Motz
• Karen Giron
  
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick
• Nancy Riley
• Joanne Basile
  

Then play along with us and post your own creation using InLinkz over on today's post on Karen's Blog!

Dude You Rock card:
Stamps: Say it with Style (PTI)
Paper: Printed digi paper from Momma's Boy by Melissa Bennett (Sweet Shoppe); Early Espresso CS (SU); Soft Stone, Kraft CS (PTI)
Ink: Early Espresso (SU)
Accessories: Buttons (PTI); Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders); printed digi elements from Momma's Boy by Melissa Bennett (Sweet Shoppe)

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop

**This is my 2nd post today. Scroll down to see my Verve Project Parade Post**

Here we are again - another FABULOUS Blast from the Past Blog Hop with Taylored Expressions and friends! It's a super talented group once again this month, so be sure to stop by all of the participants' blogs and see what they've created!!

This month, I decided to pull out Make the Grade and Extra Credit to create a card for my 3-yr-old's preschool teacher. Dean's preschool actually goes year-round, so he's been in school all summer (even though the summer "curriculum" is much lighter than the "real" school year, which makes me chuckle a bit - it IS preschool, after all!!). But all of the teachers at Children's Garden are awesome! I always like to let them know they're appreciated, and what better way than a hand-made card!?


I stamped the schoolhouse from the Make the Grade set, colored with Copics, cut it out and popped it up on dimensionals on top of a Kraft oval nestie. I chose my Copic colors to match the October Afternoon DP I used (Report Card & Fly a Kite). The card layout is from an old favorite SFYTT by Jen del Muro. (thanks, Jen!). I added some ribbon and the sentiment from Extra Credit and called it good!

That's it from me! Don't forget to stop by the rest of the blogs listed below for some awesome inspiration! Trust me, it will be worth it!!

Verve Project Parade

Have you had a chance to check out this month's Verve Project Parade over on the Verve Blog yet? As always, the rest of the Divas have been providing lots of fabulous inspiration so far!!

Today is my day to share my project, which is very special. Usually I just post a little sneak peek of my project and direct you to the Verve Blog for all the details, but today I want to go ahead and give you all the background details along with my sneak peek....

When I started thinking about this month's Project Parade theme - My Hero - my thoughts initially went to my favorite girlhood hero, my amazing father. I was always the quintessential Daddy's Girl growing up and from the time I could form the words until now, if anyone asked me who my hero was, my answer has always been, without hesitation, "my Daddy, of course". Many of you know of my family's heartbreaking journey the last several years as my too-young father (59 years old) has slipped into the end stages of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. It is very unlikely that he will survive the next year. I will spare you all the gruesome details of his traumatic story and instead focus on the surprise ending of my family's saga - the character who has risen up to shine through as the real Hero throughout all of this - My Mom. The courage and strength she has shown throughout my Dad's illness is unreal. Don't get me wrong, she's definitely had her moments - but they don't last long. For the most part she has continued to have her characteristic optimistic, sassy attitude throughout the last few years of watching her best friend, her partner, her lover, her husband of 37 years slip away from her - but not just slip away from her. That's the real kicker about Alzheimer's disease - you don't just lose your loved one, you have to watch them be replaced by someone else, someone altogether different - someone unappreciative, sometimes downright mean, sometimes even combative - but she's still there day after day - usually with a laugh - for a long time taking care of him herself (bathing him, changing diapers, feeding him, etc) and now making sure others are caring for him properly and just spending time with him so he's not lonely (even though he doesn't know who she is and won't know she was there). This is not how her "Golden Years" in paradise were supposed to be. This is not what they worked so hard to achieve in their early retirement. But she still does it. Because somewhere deep inside that man is the amazing father and husband she fell in love with and married, because that man is still deserving of love and respect and kindness, but in reality it's because the real Hero in our family is my Mom.

So anyway....I wanted to make a little gift for my Mom to let her know that even though my Dad is the one who usually gets all the attention, we really love her and appreciate all she does and all she is going through and all she is about to go through as we have another difficult but necessary transition in my Dad's care coming up in August. So I put together this little "Relaxation Bucket" for her.

I used the Verve Stamps Always on My Mind and Blue Skies on the project. You can read all the rest of the project details and supplies used and see more photos on today's post on the Verve Blog. And as always, PRIZES are up for grabs!!

Sweet Sunday Sketch #78

It's that time again - time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. Check out this fun sketch Karen created for us to play with this week:


I pulled out some of my neglected PTI goodies to create my sample this time:


Fun, huh? I love the look of those messy ruffled ribbons that are popping up everywhere. But I have to ask you guys - do any of you have trouble with the ribbon not staying adhered to the card when you do this technique? Because after about a day, my ribbons that I do like this slowly start peeling off the adhesive so I'll find the card with the ribbon all flat and lifeless, no longer adhered in cute little ruffle. And I'm using a nice brand-new roll of Scor-Tape. What's up with that? Does anyone else have that problem or is it just me? I'm wondering if it's just the humidity here in Hawaii - or more accurately the humidity combined with the fact that we *always* have our windows open and don't run A/C or anything, because I mean there are way more humid places than Maui (like Florida?) - but the humidity we do have here IS in my house too since our windows are always open and that ocean breeze is constantly finding it's way inside. But it's not like a swamp or anything out here. So I'm frustrated. I love how that ribbon looks, but the card is kinda worthless now. And this isn't the first time that's happened. :-( Oh well.

OK, enough whining from me. Be sure to check out the other Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs and see what they've done with the sketch.

• Karen Motz
• Karen Giron
  
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick
• Nancy Riley
• Joanne Basile
  

Then play along with us and post your own creation using InLinkz over on today's post on Karen's Blog!

Thank You Card:
Stamps: Say it with Style, Big and Bold Wishes (PTI) Paper: Kraft like a Rockstar, Dish all the Dirt Brown (Clear & Simple Stamps), Whisper White, So Saffron (SU) Ink: Early Espresso (SU) Accessories: New Leaf Ribbon, Felt, Scallop border die, Cloud die, Woodgrain Impression Plate (PTI); Flower die (SU); Cork; Bird embellishment (American Crafts)

Welcome Little One

I was so excited to get my new package of Dulces Ideas stamps in the mail yesterday and just couldn't wait to get them inky!! I whipped up this simple Little Boy card this evening using 3 of the coordinating stamp sets.


I learned about this stamp company from my blogging friend Anthonette and let me tell you, I am IN LOVE with these stamps!! They are so stinkin' cute and the quality is AMAZING. I am definitely hooked!!

Stamps: Baby Shower, Decoracion, Welcome (Dulces Ideas); Polka Dot Basics II (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Dish All the Dirt Brown CS (Clear and Simple); Marina Mist, Whisper White CS (SU)
Ink: Early Espresso, Marina Mist (SU); Terracotta Tile, Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories: Terracotta Tile ribbon, Scallop Border Die, Linen & Canvas Impression Plate (PTI)

That's it for me tonight. I have a super busy week at work this week (ugh) and need to head to bed! I do have a few things to share with you this week, so hopefully I can squeeze in some time for some blogging. I know I've been slacking this summer, but I'm trying to spend a lot more time with my family and keep my priorities in order!! :-)

Sweet Sunday Sketch #77

Well, here we are again - Sunday already!! This week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge is a fun one:

I decided to stamp this week and play with some of the new Verve stamps!!


I used the new Blue Skies set to stamp the sentiment and both butterflies in SU's Early Espresso. The color combo includes some of the new SU colors - Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette and my old stand-by Kraft (now called Crumb Cake for some unfathomable reason). I added some Spring Rain stitched ribbon from PTI, with some of the stitching pulled tight to make it ruffly. I also used my all-time fave Verve set, Bountiful Backgrounds to create the white polka dots on the small strip of Kraft along the left side. Seriously LOVE that set - my most used Verve set EVER!!

Be sure to check out the other Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs and see what they've done with the sketch.

• Karen Motz
• Karen Giron
  
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick
• Nancy Riley
• Joanne Basile
  

Then play along with us and post your own creation using InLinkz over on today's post on Karen's Blog!

Stamps: Blue Skies, Bountiful Backgrounds (verve)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette CS, Greenhouse Gala DP (SU)
Ink: Early Espresso (SU); Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories: Spring Rain ribbon, Scallop border die (PTI)

Sweet Sunday Sketch #76

Happy Sweet {4th of July} Sunday!! I thought I'd sneak in one final Holiday-themed, all-hybrid card today with this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. Here's a look at the sketch:


And here's a look at my almost-no-stamping hybrid creation:


I used the new Light up the Night kit by Dani Mogstad (Sweet Shoppe) - all of the papers, except for the Kraft and Gray cardstock, are printed digi papers from the kit. And those adorable firecrackers are printed digi elements too!! I also busted out some Sizzix dies for the "4" and the "th", layering them on top of some circle nesties and adding a stamped "happy" to complete the "Happy 4th" sentiment. Cute, yeah?

Be sure to check out the other Sweet Sunday Stampers' blogs and see what they've done with the sketch. A few of the girls are sitting this week out, but I left them on the list anyway because their blogs are so full of awesomeness that I know you'll find SOMETHING to inspire you...

• Karen Motz
• Karen Giron
  
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick
• Nancy Riley
• Joanne Basile
  

Then play along with us and post your own creation using InLinkz over on today's post on Karen's Blog!

That's it for me! I'm scheduling my post early - it's actually Saturday evening here in Hawaii and we're heading out the door soon to go to a party!! One of my best friends, Sarah, and her girlfriend Tiare are hosting one of their famous "food and alcohol" parties! I can't wait!! LOL. (Fortunately they only live about 4 blocks from us, so we're WALKING for ultimate safety!! ha!).

I hope all of my U.S. friends have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!! Try not to blow your face off with any fireworks!! :-)