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Last Sunday I flew out to Phoenix, AZ for work. It was my first trip out west!! I wish I had had more time to see some sights, but they kept up pretty busy from morning until night. I mean up at 5:30a and to bed at 10p, after class and homework! But I did enjoy my time there and am now trying to talk my hubby into moving out there instead of heading north, when we finally decide it's time to move anyway. The first few days were brutal with the heat, but that was due to humidity. It got up to 112 on Tuesday, but the humidity made it feel closer to 120. That was HOT!!! Then byt mid week, the humidity was gone and 106 in Arizona actually felt better then 95 in Florida - mainly because 95 in Florida came humidity which meant that as soon as you walk out the door you're sweating no matter what time of day it is...not so in AZ! I loved it!!

The city is in a hole though, surrounded by mountains. I did love that there was NO grass...or very little anyway and the AC units are on the roof (I found that strange, but I guess it's very practical there with there being a chance of flooding and all). It really is a great city! I will be headed back there for work again in February and I think we're going to try to see if we can make it into a vacation...stay out there after my work gets done. We'll have to see how that works out as it gets closer!! For now, here's a few pics from my trip.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Deb

Cards for Kids Day 6

Welcome to the final day that I will be showing the cards I made for the Cards for Kids drive. Today I am showing off another Hero Arts stamp (butterfly). Love this image!! Love butterflies!! Couldn't go wrong with it! And I broke out some Imaginesce paper I had been hoarding for a while! I think it goes so well with the stamp!! What do you think??

I opted to not use a sentiment on this one because I thought it looked great without it! Used some of Papertrey Ink's twine ane a button. This, by far, is one of my favorites of the bunch!!

For the last one, I used the same butterfly, but with a different color scheme, it gave it a whole new life! Love that different colors can do that!!

I hope you are inspired to make some Cards for Kids. For more infomation on the drive, go here!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

Cards for Kids Day 5

Happy Saturday and sorry for the late post today! I've got three cards to share today.

First up is one I made with my Critters in the 'Burbs Stamp set by Lawn Fawn. I think this set has to be one of my favorites!! Having two dogs and two cats, this stamp set was one of my first must haves from this fantastic company!!

Sorry about the horrible quality of the photo...I am rushing to get this post up that I didn't get in to correct it in PSE. This is a one layer card. Just stamped the three cats, the sentiment, and then did some coloring with my Copics. I really want to get to one of the copic coloring classes, but since I am not in the business or a shop owner, I am at the bottom of the list. I mainly look for tips from some of my favorite card-makers and scrapbookers. Mainly trying to see in my mine where the light is coming from...then go from there!

The next two use one of my newest favorite Hero Arts stamps (Silly Scape) and one of my favorite Papertrey Ink stamps (Up, Up & Away).

I was really lazy when it came to coloring the city (notice that I colored right through the windows..ha)! I wish I had a close up of the clouds. I used my two way glue pen around the edges and added some glitter! Such fun!!

Tomorrow is the last day that I will showcase some of the Cards for Kids that I made for the drive (inspired by the Lawn Fawn blog hop a few days ago to do this all week)! I am going to get these cards all boxed up and out early next week!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

Cards for Kids Day 4

I've got two more cards for kids that I made that I wanted to share today. These are two more that I made with Lawn Fawn stamps.

This first one is a one layer card. I haven't made a true one layer card in a while and it was really fun to put this one together. The Critter's of the Sea set is such a great set for the Cards for Kids drive.

The second is really simple. Did you ever make a card (or put together a project of some sort) that just did not look the image you had in your head when you started the project? That's how this card started for me. I was actually completely different then this. I had it all done, set it aside, and when I came back to it, I was just not at all happy. So I cut out the whale amd just made the really simple card you see above. I love the simplicity of it and I am hoping that it brings a smile to the face of the child that receives it.

Thanks for stopping by today!!
Deb

Cards for Kids Day 3

Today is the third day of Cards for Kids here on the bloggo...I hope you are inspired to make some of your own because this is such a great cause! I really hope you had a great time on the blog hop yesterday. I was able to get through the entire hop and I was so inspired by everything that was created!!

But on to my Day 3 cards. I decided to show some more of the Lawn Fawn stamps that I used to create cards for this card drive. This time, showcasing Swimsuit Season. This set is so much fun to play with!!

I love thos flip flops so much! I live in flip flops!! I can't wait to make more cards with this stamp set!

Thanks for stopping by today, and remember to stop by tomorrow for day four of my Cards for Kids creations!
Deb

Supplies: (both cards used the same supplies)
Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores (Papertrey Ink); Solar White (Neenah)
Pattern Paper: Happy Day 6x6 paper pad (s.e.i.)
Stamps: Swimsuit Season (Lawn Fawn)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Ribbon: Harvest Gold Saddle Stitch (Papertrey Ink)
Other: Various Copics

Lawn Fawn Hearts Cards for Kids Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Lawn Fawn Hearts Cards for Kids Blog Hop! We have all come together today to make cards for a wonderful cause, Cards for Kids! We hope to encourage you to also make cards for this great cause and have fun along the way, too! So please hop along with us, and make sure to leave comments as there will be prizes for commenters and participants! So let's get going! Also, if you are lost in the hop, you can always start at the beginning at the Lawn Fawn blog. Thank you so much for hopping along with us today!

I hope you're having fun along the blog hop so far. I am so happy to be apart of this!! If you stopped by here yesterday, you know I am showcasing the cards I made for the Cards for Kids drive all week, but since today's blog hop was started by Lawn Fawn, I thought it only right to use their stamps. We didn't have to, it wasn't a requirement, but their stamps are so fabulous and the images are so great for this card drive!! Now on to the cards...

Isn't that dog so cute?? And I LOVE the tire swing!! Here's the second one I wanted to show today using the same stamp set...

This time I added the cat and flower image. So cute!!

Next up on the hop is Angela. And if you want to start back at the beginning (just in case you missed it earlier in this post) you can do so here.

Big hugs to everyone participating in the blog hop and to everyone who hops on by today!!
Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

Supplies:
Sending you a high five:
Cardstock: Grass Layering Papers (Hero Arts); Solar White (Neenah)
Pattern Paper: Avocado Dot, Decaf Dot (Bo Bunny)
Stamps: Critters in the 'Burbs (Lawn Fawn); Up, Up & Away (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Grass Chalk Ink (Hero Arts); Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Tumbled Glass (Ranger)
Other: Various Copics; Black Stamp Marker (American Crafts)

Hip Hip Hooray!:
Cardstock: New Leaf (Papertrey Ink); Solar White (Neenah)
Pattern Paper: Avocado Dot, Decaf Dot (Bo Bunny); Happy Day 6x6 paper pad (s.e.i.)
Stamps: Critters in the 'Burbs (Lawn Fawn); Warble (Dear Lizzy by American Crafts); Fillable Frames #3 (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Grass Chalk Ink (Hero Arts); Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Tumbled Glass (Ranger)
Other: Various Copics; Medium Scalloped Border Die (Papertrey Ink)

Cards For Kids Day 1

Welcome to my first day of Cards For Kids projects. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the Lawn Fawn Hearts Cards For Kids blog hop. It starts at 6am, and you can start here to hop along. Be sure to leave some blog love for everyone as there will be prizes for commenters!!!

I've got two cards to share today that are totally different from eachother. I love getting my creative juices flowing when making the cards for kids, because I want to make at least one for everyone, and I want them to be all different, even just slightly different.

I kept this one pretty simple. It's pretty much a 'one layer care' with the exception of the butterfly. I stamped it directly onto the card, then again to color and have pop off the card slightly. I am loving this stamp set from Papertrey Ink (supply list will be at the end) and will have to get it out more often!! How cute is that snail?? Lisa Johnson really outdid herself with this set!!!

As I said, the two cards today are VERY different from one another. I love this little girl holding the flowers. Reminds me of my neice with her bazillion stuffed animals (just like her mom...my sister)!! Everytime my sister and her family visit my parents in our childhood home, my neice gets to pick ONE of my sister's old stuffed animals (that are on two shelves that go around at least a quarter of her room...not to mention the one's on the bed...LOL) to take back to her home with her. I don't think my sister was expecting that trait to be passed on to her daughter, but I find it to be especially funny, not to mention cute!! That would have to be where the 'wait until you have kids' expression our parent's always said comes to fruition.

Thanks for stopping by today. Again, don't forget about the Lawn Fawn Hearts Cards For Kids blog hop tomorrow!! It's going to be lots of fun and it's for such a great cause!!

Deb

Supplies:

Friends:

Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah)

Stamps: Flutterby Friends (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Simply Chartreuce, Spring Moss, Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink)

Other: Various Copics

Hello Banner:

Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah), Azure Layering Papers (Hero Arts)

Pattern Paper: Happy Day 6x6 pad (s.e.i.); Mellow Yellow Dot (Bo Bunny)

Stamps: Hello Flags, Girl Holding Flowers, Flourish Background Cling (Hero Arts)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Versamark

Embossing Powder: Translucent (American Crafts)

Other: Medium Scalloped Border Die (Papertry Ink); Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers); Various Copics

What I Am Using This Week

So one of my favorite blogs to read is Nichol Magouirk's. I especially love that on Monday's she usually posts what she is using that week in her projects. I thought I would give that a try. We'll see how long it lasts, but for now I am going for it!!

This week is all about Cards for Kids on my blog. You can find more information on this here. Lawn Fawn is having a blog hop on Wednesday this week for Cards for Kids, and I signed up to participate, so I decided to make this week all about Cards for Kids! I am hoping to get mine sent off very soon!! Just need to finish up a few.

But this is what I have decided to use this week...starting with Lawn Fawn...

I also added in some new Hero Arts...

And some Papertrey Ink...

This is just a small sample to the things I am using this week. Make sure to stop by the Lawn Fawn blog Wednesday to check out the Cards for Kids Blog Hop!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Deb

Me at 32

This is a companion post to the one I did on August 2 (which can be found here). I turned 32 on that day and I came up with 32 random things about me...I think it will be quite funny to look back on these in, say, 20 years. So to go with those 32 Random Notes, I made this...

I used a manilla file folder (I did another one during the July PTI Blog Hop found here) to create a mini album. I used some old K& Co and Karen Foster papers to cover the album inside and out. And of couse, because I am addicted, I've got another rolled fabric flower on the cover.

And here's the back, featuring some new Papertrey Ink Items (the spiral notebook page, library pocket die, It's Official Stamp Set, and two fillable frames sets (I LOVE these sets and have been collecting them every month).

Here is the inside. I decorated the bottom portion (the pocket) with my photos and some embellishments.

I used the Library Card die from Papertrey Ink for the cards in the two left pockets, and a smaller version I created for the pockets on the right since they were a little smaller width wise. I embellished all of the card too, with ribbons and buttons, and some birthday related items on the top of the card to fill in the empty space.

This one is my favorite...love the little lollie and the flag banner...love the House of 3 ladies for the tutorials on those and their Summer Junque digital papers (yep...this is officially a hybrid project because of that lollie and the banner flag...but that's it for the digital stuff...still VERY new to me).

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today! If you stayed up for the PTI release party...I hope you were able to pick up everything you wanted to get!!

Deb

Fabric Flower and a Doily

When I first started making rolled fabric flowers, I had made a few...and then they just sat on my desk. So for today's card, I grabbed one and a doily from my stash to make this vintagy card. I used some Basic Gray papers and my Martha Stewart Doily border punch to bring it all together.

Don't forget about Lawn Fawn's Cards for Kids Blog Hop next Wednesday. You have until the end of the day Sunday to sign up for it and you can do so here.

Thanks for stopping by today!!
Deb

Love Bug

Finally broke out my Unity Stamp Co. Love Bug set! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this set, and then when I did it sat in my stash, waiting to be inked up. Here's what I created...

I used my Unity Postcard stamp too and some Papertrey Ink Simple Valentine. Love how I can use different companies together!! The red dot paper background is from The Girls' Paperie.

Thanks for stopping by today!!
Deb

32 Random Notes

Today is my 32nd birthday and I am blessed to be spending the day with my sister and her family!! So for today I have 32 random things to share about me.

1. I love Guinness!
2. I fell off the monkey bars in first grade, landing on my head, and leaving me with a minor concussion.
3. I hate fishing, but when I was little I would play with the worms!
4. I letteres in Golf.
5. I had perfect attendance all 5 years of marching band.
6. I am a Gleek!
7. I love daisies.
8. I don't cook, I bake.
9. I hated History in high school, but fell in love with it in college!
10. When I was 11 I had my bottom wisdom teeth removed. They were already coming in and, suprisingly, there wasn't enough room in my mouth!
11. My favorite Broadway show will forever be Cats!
12. I missed a 4.0 fall semester senior year because of Computer Science 101...helps to go to class!!!
13. I joined a co-ed music fraternity - Mu Beta Psi- my sophomore year...that's how I got the nickname Sideshow Deb.
14. Three best places I've been: Gettysburg, Arlington National Cemetary, Pearl Harbor.
15. I can touch my tounge to my nose with no hands!
16. I've read all of the Harry Potter books and all of the Twilight books - I like Harry Potter better!!!
17. Five places I still want to visit in my lifetime: Ireland, Germany, Italy, Australia, and ALL 50 states (does that count as one place?!?).
18. My facorite painting is "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Suerat - he painted it at 25 and dies at 32.
19. I love papercrafts - scrapbooking and cardmaking!
20. I am lactose intolerant, but I love Ice Cream!
21. I met my hubby when I was 18.
22. I love to organize - I don't clean! And yes, they are two different things!
23. I took 2 scrapping classes with Margie Romney-Aslett!
24. I don't discriminate - I love dogs and cats!
25. My hubby and I were married in the same church that my parents and grand-parents were married in.
26. I did not change my name when we got married.
27. Other than our toast, I did not drink a drop of alcohol at our wedding.
28. I had four glasses of wine at Mel's wedding and that was just before my toast. (To clarify, Mel is my sister.)
29. I bit my nails my entire life- until I gave it up for Lent this year and managed to break the habit.
30. I had my top wisdom teeth removed when I was 13 because it was so painful I couldn't chew.
31. I am mom to four fur babies and one feather baby.
32. I am 32 and I have a Bucket List!

I did make a project to go along with this which I will share very soon!
Thanks for stopping by today!!
Deb