the BEST is yet to be! {Beate's WSC #69}

One of my friends at work is retiring and she's having a retirement party on Friday so this card was made especially for her.

I started out with a photo of Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #69 as the inspiration for my layout. Then I looked through my basket of designer paper scraps {which I am desperately trying to use} and found this daisy print. It seemed to coordinate well with the Stampin Up close to cocoa cardstock, don't you think? I did sponge all the edges for a more distressed look and used the polka dot background stamp on the right side.

The "happy retirement" stamp is by Stampabilities. I've stamped it in Versafine Vintage Sepia and clear embossed it. The sentiment on the inside is "the BEST is yet to be" and it's from the Stampin Up "Best Yet" set.

I've used the scalloped edge punch on the front and the scalloped circle punch on the inside, along with the 1-3/8 & 1-1/2" circle punches too. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Happy Day!

Quote for Today ~

Retirement has been a discovery of beauty for me. I never had the time before to notice the beauty of my grandkids, my wife, the tree outside my very own front door. And, the beauty of time itself. ~Hartman Jule

Rainy Days & Mojo Mondays!

Believe me, I know it's Friday! TGIF!!! I wasn't so sure I was going to make it through my first full week back to work, but I survived. :) I had 42 hrs in so called it quits and came home at 12:30 today. It's tempting to take a nap, but I really wanted to finish this card...


I've had this started since Monday night, but simply didn't have the ambition and MOJO to finish it until now. This layout is from Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch #74. Isn't it terrific?



You've just gotta *love* these sketches for inspiration!

Have you seen this super cute Changito stamp set yet? My sweet DIL Jami found it at Archiver's a couple weeks ago. It's another "exclusive" Archiver's clear set by Stampendous called "Rainy Day Changito". I've colored it with my Stampin' Up markers.

I've sure enjoyed all your comments this week and appreciate you taking the time to post them. Your words of friendship and encouragement mean SO much!

Wishing you all a warm and wonderful weekend!
Smiles,





Quote for Today ~
Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella. ~Pepper Giardino

If You're Feeling Blue...Try Painting Yourself a Different Color.

This is another terrific SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY by Jen Del Muro at I {heart} 2 Stamp!

Once again I've used the sweet Chloe's Closet designer paper by Making Memories. The coordinating embellishments are "flower gem stickers" from the same line. They look like brads, but they are flat with a dimensional sticker attached to the back.

The cute little sentiment is an INKADINKADOO stamp. I've stamped it in brocade blue (SU) and clear embossed.

That's all for tonight. Let me tell you it has been a major adjustment going back to work full-time this week. I was SO tired last night that I went to bed at 8 o'clock! My ankle is healing nicely, but still pretty swollen and tender to the touch.

Oh, I almost forgot... did you see that COLOR THROWDOWN selected ME as their featured stamper?!! What a special surprise! This was the first time I participated in the color throwdown challenge and it was such FUN. :)

Smiles 2 U All,

Quote for Today ~

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso

FS106 ~ Featured Stamper Card Creation

Splitcoaststampers is one of my favorite stamping websites when it comes to finding a plethora of inspiration! However, rarely do I find time to participate in all their fun challenges. One that I love, is their Featured Stamper challenge, in which we are to visit the gallery of the featured stamper and select a card to "case".

Today's Featured Stamper #106 on SCS is JulieMLacey. You will be amazed at her gallery! There is just one outstanding card after another. It was a challenge just deciding which one to use! The photo below is Julie's card I've used for inspirtation. Really, the layout is primarily what I've duplicated. I love the way she put the brads across the top, but decided they wouldn't look right on my designer paper.



One of my stamping friends has a birthday coming up next week, so this card is for her. I hope she likes it!

Thanks for stopping by today. I've enjoyed all your comments and want you to know that I appreciate hearing from you all!

Happy Sunday!
Smiles...




Quote for Today ~
A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad. ~Arnold H. Glasgow

Happy Valentine's Day Weekend Sketch Challenge!

Yeah! Beate is back with her wonderful Weekend
Sketch Challenge! I've really missed her challenges and couldn't wait to play along. Since I still needed to make MW (Mr. Wonderful) a Valentine, this sketch was my inspiration.


Not only was the sketch my source of inspiration, but so was the ribbon. I know, I've only used a tiny piece and you can barely see it tucked in along side the image, but that's where I started when selecting my cardstock, designer paper, etc. "Shuggy" at the Stamp Shack posted a fun little "ribbon challenge" and we were to select our ribbon and create a card with it. My intention was to tie the ribbon around the card, but it just didn't look quite right, especially since I wanted this to be a somewhat "manly" card. :)



The sentiment is a $1 Michaels stamp that I've stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and clear embossed. I colored the heart with the real red Stampin Up marker. The red polka dot paper was created using the Stampin Up polka dot background stamp. The "loves me, loves me not" designer paper by Carolee's Creations is something I've had in my stash for ages. I knew I would find a use for it someday! :) To cut my circles, I simply traced around a large spool of ribbon. Somewhere, I have a circle cutter, but I'm not exactly sure where it is now! Anyway, I stitched around the circles, attached the sentiment, brads with anchors, ribbon and WA-LA! Very quick and easy card! It helps so much when you've got the sketch in front of you!

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #68

We were supposed to get 5-9" of SNOW today and it never happened...Praise the Lord! It sounds like some areas of Nebraska were hit, but thankfully not us. With the warm weather we've had the past couple weeks, our snow was about gone and I sure didn't want to see more!

Do you have any plans for Valentine's Day? I'm planning a special candlelight dinner for MW. He's been waiting on me constantly since I broke my ankle and I may just show him I can still cook! :) I would *love* to hear what you do to celebrate Happy Heart Day!

Hugs & Smiles!





Quote for Today ~ Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. ~Robert Heinlein