I almost called this post ‘missing mojo’, but that’s not really accurate. It’s just been so busy around here. Between swim meets, work and prepping for CHA, it’s been pretty busy. And of course, this is the first week the girls are home from summer school. A whole new daily dynamic.

When we moved to Marshall a few years ago, the Fourth of July became my favorite week of the summer. We have created some fun traditions for our family, and we really look forward to them. Our favorite is the neighborhood parade on the morning of the Fourth. I’ll have to post pictures for you this year. Wes and the girls started pulling our ‘float’ together tonight.

Here’s a little ’simple stamping’ Happy Fourth, Kim Hughes for you. I love this Proud Eagle image. He’s so handsome, standing tall! Tomorrow brings another new release for Kim and it’s Christmas in July at CHF. You are going to FLIP when you see her adorable Christmas images. One set is called Heart Warmers, the other is Christmas Critters. The thing I really like about Christmas Critters is that many of the images have year around appeal. See you soon - I’m gonna try to stamp another before bed tonight.

• Stamps: Proud Eagle & America the Beautiful - Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms
• Cardstock: Suede Light Brown, Cryogen White, Mystic Dark, Blush Red Dark
• Ink: Espresso, Cranberry & Denim Adirondack & Wheat VersaMagic
• Accs: Copic Markers, Ribbon & Nestabilities

I was putting some supplies away this morning, and I realized that I never shared this card and tutorial with you on my blog. This is a card I created for a tutorial at CHF a few months ago. I love the Ranger Paint Dabbers because you get a really thick color lay with them. This pearl is my favorite. You can see the entire tutorial for Paint Dabber Resist HERE.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

• Stamps: Large Polka Dot Backgrounder, Silhouette Blooms II - Kim Hughes Collection - all Cornish Heritage Farms
• Cardstock: Prism Cardstock in Frosted Teal & Black, Cryogen White
• Ink: Watermelon and Black Adirondack Dye Ink by Ranger
• Accessories: Pearl Adirondack Metallic Paint Dabber by Ranger, Nestabilities Scallop Circle and Classic Circle Dies by Spellbinders, Offray Ribbon and Paper Piercer

Quick post to let you that a new Elvis is in the building and available today. The Original Elvis…I like working with these images because they are just plain fun…. this is just a plain, ole black and white image that I blinged up with Tim Holtz Grungeboard (covered with black ink and black glitter), Bazzill Bling cardstock and May Arts Red Ribbon.

A quick note about Grungeboard:  These are basically laser die-cuts that are made of a leather-like material. You can dye them, emboss them, distress them, glitter then…they will take a lot of abuse. They are also pretty flexible. You can wrap them around subtle shapes. Lots of fun.

 I’m off to fill up water balloons for a hotdog roast and water games party tonight in honor of  my sweet, sweet Ashley. You have to love a child who is totally and completely thrilled with water balloons and hotdogs for her birthday celebration..easy peasy. See you tomorrow!

I made it through my first cardio workout in a while… I’m still here. Of course, I made that 12 week commitment, so I guess I’ll go to the gym again today.

My card this morning uses the same layout as my Elvis card from Monday, but the stamps and embellishments change the ‘feel’. I am always short on masculine cards, and honestly, they are harder for me. I’ll add this one to my stash.

The Thomas Kinkaid image (The Good Life) is monochromatic with Lettuce ink. I stamp and use these TK images monochromatic about 84.2% of the time. I *could* color them, but why? I’ll leave the coloring to Sherrie! Magic Mesh, Prima Flowers and a Copper Krylon Pen complete this quick card. Here’s a hint for the Krylon pen: I use a piece of paper to mask off the inside of the image layer (so just the 1/8″ - 1/4″ border shows). Then take your leafing pen and mark the edge in one swift swoop without stopping or lifting your pen. You will have a very smooth, polished edge to frame your image without the need to add another layer.

• Cardstock: Cryogen White, Spring Willow Medium, Paypaya Puree Dark and Suede Dark Brown - all Prism

Between the family garage sale, swim meets, getting ready for CHA with my job at Splitcoast and a little weekend trip with the family, I feel like I haven’t stamped or blogged in weeks. 

Thursday will bring another Elvis release - this is the ‘Original Elvis’. I like the clean lines of the stamp border. I paired it with some Urban Rhapsody paper from K&Company and one of my favorite finds from Winter CHA, again from Kaiser - the wooden embellishments. I found some for sale this weekend in Branson at Scrapbooks Forever. If you’re travelling to the country music mecca this summer, be sure to stop in. I was surprised to find they totally redesigned their floorplan over the winter. They have so much top selling stuff in stock. Don’t let the name fool you, they have plenty of rubber and ink in the store, too! I had a great time visiting with the owner and staff.  

I’m off to the gym. One of my friends has a new position at our YMCA. I have agreed to a 12 week fitness plan. Today is my initial evaluation and first cardio workout. If I am still alive tomorrow, I’ll post another card.  Have a wonderful night!

• Stamps: the Original Elvis - Cornish Heritage Farms
• Cardstock: Urban Rhapsody - K&Company, Suede Dark Brown Prism, Cryogen White & StarDream Metallic Lagoon
• Ink: VersaMagic Chalk - Turquoise
• Accs: Making Memories In Bloom Brads, Doodlebug Turquoise Mini Brads, Wooden Embellishments - Kaiser

What a fun little sketch from Beate today! Really, really short with the blah, blah this morning. We’re having family day today and lots of good stuff planned. I used the Rummage Bin’s For the Men set to make a quick masculine card. The little star tag is from that set and says, ‘little cowboy, western star, sheriff wanted’. You can see other samples for this sketch from Beate’s regular girls: Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Mary Jo, Laurie and Sharon. I’m sure it will be well worth the click. Have a fabulous weekend!

• Stamps: For the Men & End Diamond Backgrounder - Cornish Heritage Farms
• Cardstock: Mystic Medium, Tawny Dark - Prism
• Ink: Cordouroy Distress & Espresso Adirondack and Denim Adirondack - Ranger
• Accs: Ribbon - May Arts, twine, Long Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities - Spellbinders

Do you remember my sweet friend, Jennifer, the one who loves her husband very much? I had lunch with her and 2 other friends today to celebrate the arrival of a sweet baby girl. I was in such a hurry to meet up with my friends that the picture is wonky, so excuse that, but I love these little baby girl shoes from Lesley’s Shoe Boutique set at CHF. They are just so cute to color and distress a bit. I love adding Crystal Accents to them to make them look like leather mary janes.

I’m supposed to be <insert eyeroll> working on something for dear hubby, so I’m gonna get off the computer before Wes catches me. Thanks for checking in with me, and I’ll have a sketch sample for Beate at 8:30 in the morning. Have a fabulous night!

•  Stamps: Shoe Boutique & Pretty Pattern by Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Iced Pink, Tawny Medium and Tawny Dark - Prism

• Ink: Adirondack Espresso & Brushed Courdoroy Distress - both by Ranger

• Accs: Kaiser Pearls and Nestabilities by Spellbinders

 Back in March, I was getting ready for a ladies event at my church, and I spied this gorgeous waterlily image from OnyxXpressions. They come on unmounted black rubber, and I was really pleased with the impression. Yesterday, I gave this some ink and markers…just to celebrate my first blooms of the summer. I cut the waterlily image with a fingertip craft knife that I got from Jami for my birthday. I know that she got it from Taylor’s store. It made that detailed cutting a breeze…I LOVE IT!

• Stamps: Waterlily - OnyxXpressions
• Cardstock: Blush Red Light, Suede Dark Brown, Infuse Basic Grey
• Ink: Espresso Adirondack
• Accs: Ribbon - Offray, WeRMemory Keepers Silver Hardware (colored with E79 Copic), fingertip craft knife, dew drop and Copic Markers

My little baby girl turns 6 today, and I’m hosting 4 little girls for an afternoon tea party on our front porch. It should be lots of fun, but I’ve got lots to do. See you tomorrow!

So, I adore all the little berry and floral Lockhart images that Sharon teases me with all the time, but I hadn’t had time to go through the agony of choosing and ordering yet. Then, my mom shows up with her 3rd (literally) load of stuff for a garage sale this weekend, and she has this adorable little Stampin’ Up! set from 1997 called Country Greetings.

I’m supposed to be purging, but I snatched it right up. It has a basket of berries, a cat, the quilt block and a few other things in the case. Of course, my mom isn’t an SU! purist, and there are some other stamps from other sets <gasp> mixed in the case. While I’m supposed to be clearing stuff out, I’ve decided that it’s ok….I can find a place to tuck this one little ole set.

This is for Beate’s Weekend Sketch Challenge, and I’m going to leave you to visit Beate, Cami, Jenn, Laurie, Mary Jo and Sharon for other inspirations while I peddle my old junk all in the name of new stamp room furniture. Have a great weekend!

• Stamps: Country Greetings (SU! 1997), Polka Dot Scrapblock™, Pretty Pattern Backgrounder - both from Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Sunflower Medium, Spring Willow Medium, Desert Coral Light Prism

• Ink: Espresso Adirondack

• Accs: Ribbon - May Arts from Jacksonbelle, Copic Markers, Dew Drops