Retired BNF Friday #13

I cannot believe another month is over. Once the months end in "ber" it's a very clear indication that Christmas is just around the corner. I am definitely not in the least ready, but then again I say that every year and somehow I manage to get it all together. Oh well, on to the Retired BNF (But Not Forgotten) Friday card that I am sharing with you today. I noticed that I have been making really simple and easy cards lately. I apologize, please don't think I am becoming lazy. I must admit that I have been in such a funk recently that I can't seem to get my creative juices flowing. Ordinarily, I would quickly put the blame on being busy, but I know it's not that. I have just been feeling sort of dreary. I am sure it will pass.

BTW, I would like to share with you my sister's friend's blog The Accidental Chef. She is amazing and I love reading her stories. I am sure that you will, too.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Vintage Vogue, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess Set)
Paper: Real Red Textured card stock, Old Olive and Whisper White card stocks
Ink: Old Olive and Real Red Classic Stampin' pads.
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Paper Snips (103579) and Rhinestone Brads.

Well, that's about it for now...it is a three day weekend. Thank goodness for holidays! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Baby Prints

I has been a long time since I made and shared Baby cards, so here they are. They are both fairly easy and simple to make. Gotta love those kind of cards! I've had this stamp set for about a year now, but this was the first time I used them. I really like the details of the stamped hand and foot prints. I am sure this set will be amazing for Baby Shower invitations and Birth Announcements or for scrapbooking pages. You can order this set and more via My Online Store 24/7. You can shop even in your pajamas. Smile.

 

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Baby Prints (Wood 125470 Clear 125472), Circle Circus (Wood 115778 Clear 127784)
Paper: Card stocks in Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Whisper White.
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335), Modern Label Punch (119849), Large Designer Label (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) and ribbons.

That's about it for today. I need to get started with the Halloween treats/goodies for my daughter's class. I remember when I used to make 20 treats for 20 students for my son's class. There are 34 kids in my daughter's 6th grade class this year, which means I have to start early. This might be the last time I will get to do this, because she will be in Junior High/Middle School next year. I don't know if it will be considered uncool then to pass around handmade paper crafts of your mother. Ha! Have a great week, everyone!

Retired BNF Friday #12

Thank goodness, it's FRIDAY! I will admit just this once that Fridays are a tad sweeter because I've had such a busy couple of weeks back in the office. It somehow feels well-deserved compared to when I was on medical leave at home and every single day felt the same. My daughter went back to school this past Wednesday. She's a 6th grader and had such a growth spurt this summer. I am now officially the shortest person in our family. And I am shrinking and expanding by the minute...hahaha! We took pictures in front of our house the first day of school like we always do for my scrapbook. It made me really miss my son who's now a college student in Los Angeles. Sigh. Raising children is such a double-edged sword, at least for me. I am a proud mom because my son without hesitation went off on his own working and going to school away from us and saddened that I no longer see him every day. When I see my nieces and nephew, I am always transported to those days when my own kids were small and sweet. Oh, how I miss the days. Truthfully though, it makes me feel tired just thinking of my children being little again. I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

I bought this stamp set Crayon Kids years ago when my children were little. I used it for greeting cards, party invitations and even decorating plain brown lunch bags. As I was sorting out my stash of retired stamp sets a few days ago...trying to decide what to sell and which ones to keep, I found myself in a spell of nostalgia remembering how I once fell-in-love with this stamp set because I had little kids back then. Now that they have grown, I feel it is probably time to let it go. We'll see. It made me realize that sending my son off to college is a rite of passage for me and my husband as well. We are entering into the next phase of our lives. Sadly, aging is a part of the process but in it comes natural wisdom, too that can only be obtained from both small and large lessons we learned over the years.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Crayon Kids
Paper: Card stocks in Lucky Limeade, Real Red and Whisper White
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in Brilliant Blue (retired), Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight and Garden Green.

Well, that's it for today. Have a fun week, everyone. See you Sunday!

Framelits Saved the Day

I have been busy all weekend. I expected it because it was my first weekend since I returned to the office and the last weekend before the school year begins. I did all my regular household chores such as laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, paid bills and cleaned some that I did not have time to do any paper crafting. Last night while enjoying a bottle of Smirnoff Ice Mango, I managed to quickly put together this card. I do like creating challenging cards every so often, but it's also very nice to make easy and simple ones without compromising beauty. I have fallen in-love with the Big Shot Framelits, Edgelits and Sizzlits. I appreciate how it takes away the cutting and gives such a precise and clean cut each time. I hope to one day own all of them. Grin. Take this card for instance, just a couple of card stocks, DSP, Stampin' Write markers and some pearls and it's done.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Apothecary Art (Wood 125525 Clear 125527)
Paper: Card stocks in Soft Suede, Pool Party and Very Vanilla, Attic Boutique DSP from 2012 Occasions Mini catalog
Ink: Basic Black and Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' pads, Stampin' Write makers in Lucky Limeade and Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Paper Doily Sizzlits (125592), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Stamping Sponges (101610), 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Pool Party (122975)

Well, that's about it for this Sunday's post. It has been cooler the past couple of days here in Northern California, and when I say cooler I meant mid 90's instead of the triple digit heat of the past week. I am already looking forward to fall. That's it for now...more chores await. Have a fantastic week, everyone. Thank you for stopping by.

Retired BNF Friday #11

I survived my first week back in the office! Every single day definitely felt like a Monday, but I was so glad to see my peeps and to slowly get back in to my daily routine. I came back to a really messy office, because while I was away I got a brand new desk. It's actually made out of wood, unlike the heavy cardboard one I had before. Smile. I still don't know where most things are. Oh well. I really like my new desk, it has lots of drawers, a hutch and cupboard like cabinets for storage and lots of space to spread out all my paper work. Thank you Frank for putting my desk together. You rock!

Well, as promised I managed to steal a little bit of time to put together this really cute pink card for today's Retired BNF (But Not Forgotten) Friday post. I want to dedicate this card to two of my good friends who are having their special days this week. Happy birthday, Annalyse and Angela!

I really love this Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set and I know I am going to hang on to it. It's such a versatile set and also awesome for invitations and Cheer-Up cards. I hope Stampin' Up! comes up with another cupcakes set in the future.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Crazy for Cupcakes and Sweet Little Sentiments
Paper: Textured Melon Mambo and Whisper White card stocks, DSP Flirtatious Specialty
Ink: Basic Black and Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' pads
Accessories: Stampin' Write markers, Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Pinking Hearts Border and Corner Rounder punch, Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon, 2-Way Glue Pen (100425), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (102023)

It has been a very hot week here in Northern California, triple digits the past seven days. It's supposed to cool down some beginning this weekend. My A/C has been working non-stop and in need of a break. It's the last weekend before school starts, it will be busy with last minute shopping and errands. Have a nice weekend, y'all. Thank you for stopping by.

Keep Calm...Create

Well, I cannot believe I just completed eight weeks of my medical leave. I had a long list of things I was hoping to accomplish during that time, but sadly none of them got done. I did not anticipate it would take the entire eight weeks to recover. Oh well, time surely flies and although I am sure it will be hectic in the office the next few months trying to catch-up and stuff, I must be brave and face it. I shall put on my big girl panties and conquer the work, the emails, the phone calls, the meetings and everything else. While typing this, I am doing an inventory in my head of my organs...hmmm, which one can I live without? Which ones are the genuine VITAL organs? Do women get hernias? Smile.

Hobby Lobby opened here in town last Friday. I was so excited that I was one of the first customers there. However, for some odd reason, I liked it so much better when I was in Alabama. Now...well, not so much. Not a lot of sales at all for a grand opening and get this, they DO NOT accept competitor's coupon! Perhaps I liked it when I thought I couldn't have it, but now that it's here I have lost all interest. Oh well...c'est la vie!

I made this card to remind myself to "Keep Calm and Carry On". I must admit that one of the reasons why I have not been productive lately is because of Pinterest. Yes, I have a feeling I might need to check myself into rehab soon. I am clearly addicted to pinning that I have not been to the Stampin' Connection Site. It's bad, really bad. Hopefully, work and going back to my old hectic schedule will distract me from it. Should I slowly withdraw myself from pinning or just go cold turkey? Aughh, my life just reached the lowest point of pathetic. Hahaha!

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Carry On - Hostess Set (Wood 126645 Clear 126647)
Paper: Twitterpatted DSP (125406), Card stocks in Lucky Limeade, Basic Gray and Whisper White
Ink: Craft Pad Basic Black (102192)
Accessories: Heat Tool (129053), Clear Embossing Powder (109133), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), 3/8" Ruffled Ribbons Lucky Limeade (122977)

I made a bunch of this for swaps at Convention

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Postage Due (Wood 126395 Clear 126397), Creative Elements (Wood 122645 Clear 122647)
Paper: Twitterpatted DSP (125406), Card stocks in Riding Hood Red, Island Indigo and Whisper White
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in Island Indigo (126986) and Riding Hood Red (126968)
Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Stamping Sponges (101610), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Modern Label punch (119849) and Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)

Well, that's all I got today. Have a great week, everyone. Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully, I'll be able to post a Retired But Not Forgotten card on Friday...provided that I survive this week. Smile.

Papaya Collage

I just noticed that it's been over a year ago since I started my blog. I've been so distracted lately that I completely forgot my First Anniversary was on July 22nd (I was in Alabama then). I apologize that my entries the past couple of months have been sort of sporadic due to recuperating from major surgery and the recent death of my stepdad. I am doing my best to ease back into my old schedule since I am returning to work in a week. Augghh! I can already imagine how hectic and crazy it will be in the office. Oh well, I am actually ready to go back and dress-up again every morning for work. I actually miss having a purpose. It was a nice break only because it was necessary for me to recover. However, once I was able to walk around without wincing in pain...a small (just a small - haha) part of me actually miss my job. Smile. Note to Self: Remind myself this when things get too insane in the office.

I was finally able to play with my new stamps. It's like Christmas! I am so in-love with the Papaya Collage (Wood 126610 Clear 126612) stamp set. I am completely enamored with the brand new Elegant Butterfly punch (127526). It has more character than the old style butterfly punch. It's perfect for anything vintage-y and classy.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Papaya Collage (Wood 126610 Clear 126612), Oval All (retired)
Paper: Card stocks in Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo and Whisper White
Ink:  Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Fancy Fun Embossing Folder (127751), Large Oval(119855) and Scallop Oval (119856) Punches, Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526), 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Island Indigo (122974), Stampin Dimensionals (104430) and Pearl Basic Jewels (119247).

Well, that's it for today's post. Have a wonderful week, everyone. I will savor every single day of my last week before I return to work. Hopefully will do some back to school shopping with my daughter and birthday cards for a couple of my friends. Come again soon!