Summertime Vintage Picnic

I've never been too excited about Fall and autumnal colors (orange just doesn't do it for me). I keep trying, but it's not as exciting as Spring and Summer, and I just can't get inspired to make those cards.

So, I thought I'd post some summery cards today, made with PTI's "Vintage Picnic" set. I think the first one was CASEd from Nicole Heady here.

The others are just variations of her design. The daisies and strawberries really remind me of a summer picnic, although I've never taken strawberries to a picnic, they just seem "picnic-y"...

Happy Birthday

Sunshine again today! I thought I'd post a happy card today in honor of our 2 days of sunshine (it's a big deal out here in the Northwest). It's also a cause to photograph some cards without artificial light.

I made this one with Whiff of Joy's "Henry with Muffin." Something about Henry just makes me smile. And he is also super fun to color.


Had to add some stickles to the cupcake top, for Anastasia.


SUPPLIES:
Paper.....Solar White (Neenah), Sunflower (Prism), Teal (Unknown), Thrift Shop (October Afternoon)
Stamps.....Henry with Muffin (Whiff of Joy), Birthday Wishers (Amuse)
Ink..........Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Misc........Classic and Scalloped circle nestabilities (Spellbinders), border punch (EK Success), Diamond Stickles, Copic markers

It's Been A While....

....since I last posted. Actually, it's been over a year.Too much happened to explain in a short space, so I think I'll just move on, and start with today:

A Good Day, even for a Monday :)

It's a bit cloudy today, and there is Monday Night Football tonight, so that puts me in a Fall mood. Here are a few Fall cards I made with my PTI "Vintage Picnic" stamps; I {heart} this set!


SUPPLIES:
Paper....Kraft (Speckletone), Solar White, Natural White (Neenah), Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado (PTI), Jack Stripe (Reminisce), Mellow (BasicGrey)
Stamps.....Vintage Picnic & Vintage Picnic Sentiments (PTI)
Ink.....Tuxedo Black (Memnto)
Misc....Classic & Scalloped square nestabilities (Spellbinders), Jute (May Arts), yellow satin (Michaels), Copics

Birthday Excitement

I made this little guy 2 months ago, and am just now getting around to posting it...woo hoo! His expression just makes me smile, because it's one I make a lot around my kids.

The images were stamped separately and cut out, then glued on to the card. I computer-printed "Happy Birthday" inside the card. I had the hardest time getting smooth, blended coloring on the owl image with my Copics, so I think I'll have to find a better way to color Hooty next time; maybe just stamp him on light brown paper.
SUPPLIES:
Stamps.....U R A Hoot (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Ink....Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper....Solar White (Neenah); Kraft & black (unknown); Urban Prairie (BasicGrey)
Misc...clear embossing powder, dimensionals, classic circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Copics, glitter (Martha Stewart), Quickie glue pen

Little Things...

I made these a couple of weeks ago, but am just getting around to posting them....

They are really quick and easy. I got the layout from Michelle Wooderson here. She calls it her Postage Stamp Layout, and I think that it is so cute!

I didn't use bows on my cards, though, because the Post Office has really been charging me extra for anything slightly not flat (even a Braille dot was charged an extra penny!). I really like the look of bows, though, so maybe I'll go back to that and pay the extra postage, because the cards look not as happy as I'd like them to...


I don't know who made up this quote, but I think it is so true in life. Enjoy the little things in your life today!

SUPPLIES:
Stamps...IB Birds (Lockhart)
Ink....Noir (Palette)
Paper...Solar White (Neenah), Aqua Mist (PTI), Urban Prairie (BasicGray)
Misc...classic & scalloped square Nestabilities, Copics, ribbons (stash), computer generated sentiment

Slowly...

...learning about photo editors. Maybe if I just practice more, it will get easier. That's what I always tell my kids, so it must be true!

This is another card I did with my Fluffles the Cat stamp. The layout was inspired by this card from Michelle Wooderson.


SUPPLIES:
Stamp...Fluffles the Cat (Stampendous), polka dot backgrounder (CHF)
Ink.......Noir, New Canvas (Palette)
Paper....Girl Friday (Cosmo Cricket),; Intense Teal (Prism); Kraft, Aqua Mist (PTI)
Misc......Copics, Classic & Scalooped Nestabilities, Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars), aquamarine crystal glitter (Martha Stewart), flower punch (EK Success), button die (Sizzlet), white satin ribbon (May Arts)

Memorial Day

Well, usually for Memorial Day, we go to a service at the military fort near our home. But I was still wiped out from last week's chemo, so we couldn't go this year. Kind of a bummer, because I really like attending that service. And I was too tired to have people over for a cookout.

But my crew still found a way to have a good Memorial Day, even if we did stay home all day.

We ended up playing Tripoley for quite a while, which was surprisingly silly. I was kind of tired, so I just put a sleeping bag on our deck and lay there next to everybody (I still had to play, though).




I know this next photo is unbalanced, but I like it because it shows each kid being themself: Peter, kicking back...Ziggy, sorting his cards...Anastasia, giving me "the eye,"...

Pippin was so funny, and was excited that we were all outside. She finally fell asleep, and it was so cute, because she pretty much slept in the middle of the deck (not next to me on the comfy sleeping bag!).

After the game, we mustered up some picnic grub: brats, hotdogs, potato salad, baked beans, and jello. I did sneak in a green salad for Peter and me, though, because I had to have something fresh...if you know what I mean...

The girls and I made rice crispy treats with sprinkles and flags (which Peter & Sophia made), just to make it more patriotic. My ladies sure helped me make some delicious picnic food.

Us 3 girls decided to wear kind of patriotic colors...sort of. Sophia didn't have any red, white or blue clothes, so she figured pink camo would be just as good; I thought so, too. And of course, Anastasia would only wear those colors as ACCENTS to yellow, which is fine by me.

Here's us 3 bandana girls, in a photo lovingly taken by Peter....
Left to right: Bandanastasia, Dianabandana, Sophiadana

So, not a typical Memorial Day for us, but we still managed to pull a party together with just us, and it turned out okay...and the weather was awesome!!!