FBW #169 - CELEBRATE

At Flutter By Wednesday this week we are CELEBRATING! Just create a NEW card using a butterfly, fairy or angel on it with a CELEBRATION theme to play along.

Well I haven't done too much creating lately or celebrating. A few weeks ago, I got together with some friends to crop a little. I spent my time working on this card and coloring some images. The only thing left to do was put a sentiment on my flag. Figured it would make a great birthday card, so went with it.

This week we have a new member of our team - please help in welcoming Mary J to the FBW team! You can see her fabulous work on her blog. I hope you'll play along with us this week - head over to the FBW blog for all the details!

On a side note, it's getting better for me. I spent all weekend redoing by studio and purging stuff. I found a lot of stuff I forgot I had - and a lot of stuff I want to do. Especially scrapbooking...so many pictures and stories that I need to document. Right now, I decided that I'm not going to join any other companies. I need to take some time and heal. I want to create just to create. This week I started back at the Preschool and I meet my new class next week. I'm busy preparing my room, lesson plans and art projects. This year I'm also doing another class besides my 2 1/2 yr olds. It will be fun because it's the PreK room and a couple of my kiddos are from my first year of teaching. Anyway, I will get back to posting regularly and creating so just bear with me please. Thanks for stopping by!

FBW #168 & Some Sad News

First up is Flutter By Wednesday - today is an OPEN challenge which means ANYTHING goes as long as you create a NEW creation using a Butterfly, Fairy or Angel. I want to thank Victoria Case as she designed this wonderful digi and gave it to the DT to use...isn't it beautiful?! So So pretty! LOVED coloring it in. Unfortunately, that's all I got done...

Over the weekend I took some time and colored 4 different images for upcoming DT assignments, finished a swap and worked on a TAC Dream Team project. Well that's all I got done as I learned that The Angel Company was hanging up their wings...WHAT? you say! Yep, after 14 years we now have to say goodbye to TAC. To say that I'm doing good is a lie. I'm in totally shock and am unsure what and where to go from here. For the last 5+ years, TAC has been a HUGE part of my life. This last year I was accepted to the Dream Team and was doing more TAC business then ever! I've developed wonderful friendships through other Angels and customers. I am so sad to see it end but I know that this was not an easy decision for Mischelle. My heart goes out to her and her family as they go through this transition.

For me, well it's VERY hard to create...when I step into my room it's full of all things TAC. I'm sad and am taking time to work through the shock and grief. I don't know that joining another company is for me...I have lots to work through and after many headaches I've decided to just let things be for right now. No thinking about the future and what's next. I hope my customers will give me some time and realize that I can't rush into anything as I want to make the RIGHT decision for me.

I do hope to finish up the images that I colored into cards and to post those but as I said before it's so hard...I know there is so much going on in the world and this may seem so small to you but it's such a BIG part of my world...please pray for me. Help me decide what to do and to find the energy and creativeness to go on...my mojo has truly suffered!

Baby's Teddy & Back to School Pics

I colored up this cutie a little while ago and finally had the opportunity to make a card. I'm digging the whole "boy" thing...I seem to do such girly cards that it's fun to change it up a bit.

I used the digital image by Mabelle called Baby's Teddy. You can find it at the Whimsy & Stars Studio HERE. I kept the card pretty simple as I wanted the image to take center stage. LOVING how I colored the teddy bear....it's so fluffy!

Abby went back to school yesterday and I'm happy to report that it went REALLY well. She is LOVING her teacher and is excited about school. This is a HUGE relief and I PRAY that it continues! Here's a few pictures of her I took while waiting for the bus to arrive.

I took many photos and she started doing poses. This is one of my favorites and it shows her true smile...

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessed By Your Friendship

Happy Wednesday to you! Today is a special day as school starts back up today! I can't believe the summer is over...man, it went fast! Abby's excited to start back so here's hoping that this year goes a little smoother than last.

Time for another Flutter By Wednesday! This week our challenge is to create a NEW creation using a butterfly, fairy or angel and include punches or die cuts! Easy enough, right?

For my card I used the cute digi by Wee Stamps called Suzi with Bunny. The fabulous sketch comes from The Sweet Stop this week. It was PERFECT for what I visioned I wanted to do. The butterfly is from my Martha Stewart punch. I backed it with the yellow paper and trimmed. Then I covered it with my Smooch Pearlized Top Coat. It has a nice shimmer to it! The sentiment is from a new set called Grace & Peace from The Angel Company.

So whatcha think? I hope you join us this week at Flutter By Wednesday - just head on over to the blog for all the details! Thanks for stopping by!

Tune in Tuesday on the Savvy Projects Blog

Today I'm the designer over on the Savvy Projects Blog. Go check out the meaning behind this card as well as the tutorial to make it!

Another FABULOUS Blog Hop featuring FABRIC

Today over on the Savvy Projects Blog we are doing a technique blog hop - Stamping on Fabric

I have to admit this is something I've always looked at doing but have not actually tried. I know you can stamp on T-Shirts and such but I didn't work up the nerve to try that yet. I will though especially since I already bought the supplies, lol!

I went to the Fabric store and started looking around...I finally decided on some burlap and muslin swatches and headed home. All I could think was "fall" - you know hay rack rides, pumpkins, changing leaves. So I set off to create something with that in mind.

I stamped THANKING GOD a Level B Hostess set onto the muslin with my Memento Ink. I read online that you should heat set it but I'm thinking that is if you are going to wash it. I just let it set for a few and then I colored the image with my Copics. Go slow and don't go all the way to the outline of the stamp (yes, I'm speaking from experience here)...TRUST ME. Once I finished coloring I let it set for awhile and then applied some chalk all around it.

Card Details:

Stamps: Script Background, Background Soup and Thanking God all from The Angel Company

Papers: Miss Moxie Cardstock Collection and Kraft

Others: Muslin and Burlap fabric, Copics, Chalks, Button, Burnt Umber Palette Ink and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

I'm pleased with the results but definitely want to play more! I'm hoping to find time this weekend! I hope you will join us - just look at all the fabulous creations so far!

It's Flutter Time!

Welcome to another Flutter By Wednesday! This week we are being sponsored by Paper Pretties....which means there is a PRIZE up for grabs!! We were given some digital images to use and I decided to use Pixie Jena on my creation.

The challenge this week is your favorite - OPEN!! Anything goes as long as it's a NEW creation that includes a butterfly, fairy or angel on it! Head on over to the Flutter By Wednesday blog for all the details!! I hope to see YOUR creation!

Thanks for stopping by!

August Card Kit is Available NOW!!

The August Card Kit is available for ordering! You get TONS of awesome product, pictures and instructions. Have you wanted to try your hand at the ruffle ribbon technique? How about making your own felt flower? Well you will with this kit! I provide everything you need to complete these cards and more! Just look at all the things you get!

What a great deal! Contact me today to get yours!!

Back To School...REALLY?!?!?!

Can you believe it's back to school time - already! Man, where has the time gone? I'm trying to be a little ahead of the game and get projects done early...because as you know when Abby goes back to school well then I have to go back as well! Another adjustment period to another new routine! Yikes!!

So I was in the mood to do some back to school gifties. I know how exciting, scary, overwhelming and fun it can be for kiddos and teachers to go back to school. This year it's really hit Abby that not all her friends may be in her class - she's taking it a little hard and is scared "they'll forget her". As much as I try to reassure her we all know how this works...luckily we live near a lot of her friends and she has activities with them such as girl scouts and sports.

This little cutie is from Mabelle RO (Whimsy and Stars Studio) called Back To School and can be found HERE. One of Abby's friends, who has been in her class the last two years, is not in her class this year. She's pretty sad about it so I made this for her to give to him. It's a tag so that Abby can write her special little note to him on the back of it.

Have you been bitten by the Pinterest bug? Let me tell you that is the BEST thing EVER!! I LOVE it...and not only because of all the cool ideas but I'm actually using/doing stuff from there. I've already made my household binder, menu planning, fixed some new recipes and went out yesterday to buy tile to FINALLY make some coasters! It's been a huge help for me and I'm so glad I joined it.

This jar was made from ideas I got off Pinterest! The printables that fit on the Hershey kisses are from this blog and the apple printable on the front of the jar is from this blog. The jar is an "up" cycle - it used to have paper clips in it that I got at the $ Store.

Before you go I just wanted to share a quick picture of Abby. Yesterday was her performance for her Theatre Camp. She's been attending for 3 weeks. Their play was a collection of Dr. Seuss tales. She did such a good job! There were three stories and in between each one they would do a song & dance number. This is a picture of her getting ready for one of those numbers.

She sure loves to perform for an audience! She DID NOT get that from me!! (BTW, she's the one next to the boy in the back with the two necklaces on and piggy tales) Thanks for stopping by today!

Flutter By Wednesday #165 - Sketch Time!!

Today for Flutter By Wednesday we are getting sketchy! Danni has created a wonderful sketch for us to use - don't forget your butterfly, fairy or angel!

There are so many possibilities with this sketch so have fun! I rotated the sketch for my card.

I'm using a new set called SEW LOVELY by Nina Bracket available through The Angel Company. It's also a sneak peek at my August Card Kit. I'll show the rest of the cards this week. I paired the sweet stamps from Sew Lovely with Juliette SWIC - love the vintage feel it has. I was going to add butterflies around the image (where the dots are on the sketch) but it seemed a little too much. So I decided to add a butterfly with the sentiment and then accent the image with a few dew drops.

I'd love to see what you do with Danni's sketch! Join us over at the FBW blog and play along! Thanks for stopping by today!