The Heat

I'm sure we all get tired of talking/hearing about the weather. After all, it's not like we don't all have one form of it or another... It's not that hot here today; 82ish by the big Lake, but the sun is relentless! The heat got to DH while I went to church this morning. Normally, because of some of his health issues, he's sitting with a blanket or throw on, topped by a heating pad even on most summer days. Today he's hot, and doesn't feel well. So I'm going to try and get this post done in one fell swoop, then if he doesn't require too much attention, get to a little commenting. Shall we get right to the cards, then? Okay...

I saw Carol's card for the newest Inkspirational Challenge where the prompt this time is "dip." She said she didn't have any chip-and-dip stamps to work with this but went in a different direction. Do stop over and see her card; it's a perfectly awesome take on the prompt. I did, however, have a stamp that was rather literal...

TA-DAAAAAA. It makes me chuckle... A few chunks of brightly colored scrap cardstock, some Copic markers, some MFT dies, one ME die, and some Newton's Nook stamps. EZCHEESY!!!!! Hahahahahahaha. Sorry... Well, maybe not...

I haven't played along at Tag You're It for some time, and I really, really wanted to. Stuck. Mr. Mojo wasn't having it. No amount of cajoling worked for two days. Then I had a ping. Pulled out an old, (and now out of business) TAWS set and finally made something to my satisfaction:

The aforementioned, (now there's a word for you...) flowers are a TAWS set. The sentiment is N&T, colored with Copics, an SC tag, some random, fat gold cording, an ancient piece of SU dp, and a created, golden glittery hole protector. You should see it in real life.... And because it's "Flowers" at Uniko, I'm going to sneak this in there too. After all, when the owner and designer is named "Bev," it's kind of a neato thing!

And lastly, I've got a birthday card for a very, very special son-in-law. He's the kind of man who will drop everything if we need help. And while that's cool, he's also a great person, and dad to four of the nicest kids ever. I was inspired by the current sketch at FMS, and I'm also playing at SSSW where it's anything goes.

The patterned paper are just scraps, but I loved them. The sentiment is from PTI, and the succulent plant is from HA. I watercolored it with my Ziggies, and I like the way it turned out. Oh, the circle die is from MFT. And because he's calling, I'm running. Happy dances everyone.

Happy Birthday Geri!!!!

Hopefully by today, Geri's birthday card arrived in the mail and this won't spoil the surprise. You know her, she's of the Manitoba Stamper fame. She's got a CAS style that I envy, and her cards are just delightful! We got to meet in person a couple of years ago at the Lake House in Minnesota, and lemme tell ya, she's an amazing person (beside being an amazing crafter)!! She's sweet, funny, kind, thoughtful, and I loved being able to spend time with her. She'll probably kill me, but I'm going to try to upload a short video from our time together at the Lake House... cross your fingers...

We'd been to the Mall of America. Shopped a bit, and while the lovely Ardyth was in the changing room, the rest of us gathered here. That's Kim in the darling orange jacket, the birthday girl in the blue shirt, the presently-traveling-to-England Miss Darnell, and the ever sweet Anita. Yours truly is obviously shooting the video... Isn't she just fun??!!! Gotta love this girl!!! I crack up every time I see this! Gee I hope this worked! Surprise Geri!!! Hahahahaha

Her birthday card looks like this:

Mostly CAS. Can't find the 6x6 tablet where this patterned paper came from; but it does add a bit of fun to this card. The stamps are NBUS (and golly!, I've been online stress shopping as of late) by Altenew. Great alphabet! A chunk o' twine, and done. I hope she liked it!

Well Geri, you didn't get a "party" on my blog this year. Things have been slightly busier around here lately, but I wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you. I hope you get to spend your birthday doing fun things, and having your favorite dinner, which you didn't have to make. It's been a joy to know you, and you hold a very special place in my heart. So have a wonderful birthday, and may God bless you richly in this coming year. xoxo

It also happened to be Becca Cruger's birthday last week. DH has kept me hopping, so I haven't been able to get posts done appropriately, so Becca, I'm offering my most sincere apologies for that. I did make a card, and I'm fairly certain it arrived safely a day or two ago. She turned the big "Three-Oh" which is a wonderful age! I loved my thirties and I know she will too! Happy Birthday, Becca!! From FB, it looks like you celebrated in style, and I hope it continues throughout the year!! Happy Birthday! Do stop by her blog and leave her some HB wishes; it's at The Damsel of Distressed (isn't that just a fun blog name?!!)

She'd put up a mood board on her blog, and we could see what we could see and make what we could make. For some reason, my brain saw people loving life, and the soft colors amidst the vivid ones. There's no predicting where my mind goes....

Sending birthday love. LF, MFT, RC dies. PTI sentiment. And several kinds of patterned paper. The card Becca hopefully received, has some yellow blings added to it too. I'd forgotten to put them on before I took the photo (I'm such a knob!). I hope she like this. 

And lastly, there's been another family birthday. Well...truth be told, there are always birthdays happening in my family, lol! This one went to grandson Michael. It has a nice masculine look. I used the sketch from CTS and kept it very CAS.

That's an AE stamp behind the shield, which set if off perfectly in my eyes. Scraps of black and gray, a SSS sentiment, a WPlus9 banner die, and that's it. I used a cut file from Silhouette to make the shield. EZPZ.

And that's it. Happy birthday once again to Geri, and to Becca. Wouldn't it be fun if we ALL could celebrate birthdays together??!! Gotta win that lottery so we can, lol!! Happy dances everyone.

As Long As DH Is Settled...

He's all tucked in watching the Cubs game, so I'll listen to it as I try to post a couple of cards. The summer heat is upon us, and we've had no rain for a couple of weeks other than a 30 second sprinkle the other day. Normally, I wouldn't water the grass, but since we're having Lizzy's high school graduation party here next month, I've been doing the back and side yards. It looks pretty green compared to the neighbors on both sides. Where I'm not watering, we've got crunchy grass. Looking forward to Fall's cooler weather. So that's what it's doing around here, and since it's too hot to work in the flower beds much, I'm "stuck" inside crafting. Awwwww...isn't that just a shame??!! (not)

So I have two cards to share. I'm getting better at either working on one card for days and days (DH needs my caregiving skills fairly often), or getting them done really, really fast. First up, is one that I've made for the Uniko Challenge, where the ever wonderful Carol is GD. I took the sketch from The Heart Desires second challenge, so I guess I'll pop it in there too!

And mine looks like this:

Oh I wish you could see this in real life! It really is pretty.... Those are SSS flower stamps and dies, and a PS leaf die. I watercolored the blooms with my Ziggies, and added a bit of Stickles to their centers. Some PTI rainstones and a strip of AC glitter ribbon which was white, but I sponged on some ME Ocean ink just because. The sentiment is an NBUS from Jane's Doodles. EZPZ lemon squeezy!

Next I have a card for Cas(E) This Sketch and Happy Little Stampers. 

I kept this card pretty CAS (at least compared to my last post...). 

More of that LF Guava cardstock for this, which I die cut using an MFT die, and tucked a journaling card (from that Archivers kit I bought) because it was so festive: falling confetti! A couple of strips of washi tape, and three yellow sequins finish it off. 

Guess I'd better stop now. Don't want to keep you too long or you may not want to come back! Have a wonderful weekend, and happy dances everyone!

It's Been a While...

Gee Whiz! I sure hope I can remember how to write and post this, lol! Been busy with taking care of DH, and had some company visiting, so very little time to craft, comment, or write a blog post. How are you all??? Doing well, and enjoying the summer, I hope! Quiet here, which is not a bad thing. Trying to get back in the crafting swing here. Managed a few cards, and had a blast doing them. Wanna see a couple? Okay...

 I've actually made a bunch of cards over the course of time; before and after company, some took days to make as I worked on them in between DH's doctors' appointments, and caregiving tasks, and other cards took just a bit of time. This first one looks pretty darn sweet irl, and is winging its way to a friend. I like this fun and funky look.

For Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday, I made this:

The theme is to use wafter thin dies, and so I did. The banner, the pineapple (both C&9th), the rectangle and oval (both MFT) were all die cut. C&9th stamps, Versafine ink, some gold sequins that match the gold bits behind the pineapple crown and banner, some new LF guava cardstock, and scraps of patterned paper. The guava panel is popped up. 

I wanted to show you one more card before I let you run today. It's for both SSS Monday (flora &/or fauna) and Wednesday (create a scene) Challenges. I was inspired by Semee's card from April of this year.

If you haven't seen these WPlus9 dies, head on over there and scope them out. I used a PPP large scalloped rectangle, a LF border die, and a ME scalloped circle. Everything else is WPlus9. Many cardstock scraps gave their lives to make this little cutie. 

Neither card is in my "usual" style, but then, my style tends to run the gamut. The kitty card took a couple of months to make. I couldn't get it to look exactly how I wanted, and the picture in my brain wasn't anything like this, so I'd put it away, take it out, put it away....until I sat down yesterday, bound and determined to finish it once and for all. Does that ever happen to you?

I'm waiting for WE Energies to come. As I sat here working on this post, I heard a "pop, pop, pop," and am pretty sure I can see an electrical wire hanging down behind my garage. Some trees are in the way, so I can't be absolutely sure. Don't worry, nothing seems to be burning, and I'm not touching the garage. Obviously I haven't lost power, so I'm not going to go all crazy about this, but safety first! Such excitement at 6:30 in the morning....

And that's it. I'm going to actually try and make a few cards and get some commenting in today. I've kinda missed you all. Well... no "kinda" about it! Take care and happy dances everyone!!

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and One More

Long post title, short post. No time to chat if I want to get this done today. So. Miss Amy and her team have put on another great Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop, and I have a very QAEZPZ card. Mostly NBUS, too. (For some reason, my computer isn't letting me add the SCLBH logo... sorry). My card looks like this:

The focal panel is from a kit; Jillibean Soup Healthy Hello through Archivers. I added the 'you' from an AE set. The scalloped die is from PPP, and the base is a scrap. The greens are prettier irl, but it's overcast today so it wouldn't photograph well. Green in honor of Miss Amy.

Next I have another QAEZPZ card that will go to CASology with the cue card, "Congratulations," and the sketch from CTS.

Here's my take:

The paper is from Anita, which she shared when we were at the Lake House. Yes, I've been hoarding - so would you! I made a panel and stamped with an AE set, and added one square bling. Popped it up on the card base, and done. 

Should time allow today, I hope to get to some commenting. Take care and happy dances everyone.

Michael's Birthday

As long as DH is settled in watching MLB Central, I have a couple of minutes (I hope) to write a quick blog post. Have I told you about my neighbor, Michael? He's only one of the best neighbors ever in the whole wide world. And it's his birthday today. We talk over the fence between our yards, and mostly, our conversations revolve around gardening and recipes. He's funny and really nice, and I tease him that he's like having a girlfriend living next door. We laugh like a couple of idiots; he's always a bright spot in my day. So I made him a card. Popping this one into a brand spankin' new challenge created by the very talented Kate Lorenzini over at The Heart Desires. Do check it out, and wait till you gaze upon the DT....wowzers. And while I'm at it, SSS Wednesday Challenge is for the guys/FD.

If you read the bottom of The Heart Desires inspiration photo, you'll see what elements can be included in cards for this challenge, and you can use one, two, or all three. I chose the blue color, and geometric shapes.

CAS. And EZPZ. Scraps of blue and white, along with gold vellum. Versafine black ink with a PTI sentiment. That's it. And I've got to run. Thinking of you all. Happy dances everyone.

Belated Birthday Wishes

I've missed a few of my dear friends' birthdays. Been a little wrapped up in things around here, but I actually did remember their days. I'll offer up DH as an excuse and leave it at that! Managed to get a couple of early mornings in the old craft room while my sweetie pie was sleeping in. And while he's watching my Cubbies win their game, (all settled in and safe in his recliner) I'm doing a quick post. Will just post a couple of cards for today.

First up is a card for Muse, where the ever wonderful Leigh Penner is guest designing this week. I used her layers as my inspiration. Let's peek at Leigh's card, shall we?

How cute is that?! Love the woodgrain she's used for this FD card. Mine is a bit different, but you can see my "exploded" layers which mimic hers.

Next is another birthday card. I made this card first, then went searching for a challenge; took me a second to find SSS Monday with a monochromatic theme.

Will catch you later kids; DH needs me again. Should you want/need the deets about either card, shoot me an email and I'll get back to you. Happy dances everyone.

First a Card...

Without all my usual chatter, I have a card to share. It's a pretty QACAS one. Playing along with the current challenge at City Crafters, where we're to use black, white and gold as an accent.

My interpretation looks like this:

One Studio Calico Stamp set, using the little dots, one Studio Calico 'celebrate' die, and a couple of scraps; gold glitter and black. EZPZ, and I like the way this turned out. 

Now. I've got some 'splaining to do, so if you want to skip this next part, feel free. I haven't been crafting, posting or commenting very much as of late. Wasn't sure how much to share, wasn't sure how to say what I wanted to say, and wasn't sure you'd want to hear. And I spent a little time reeling with total brain shut down, too. But I'm going to give this a go, and see what falls out of my brain and onto the keyboard. Some of you know that my DH is a few (20) years older than me, and I'm no spring chicken. Overall, he's in decent health. Not great, not good, but decent. Took him to a new doctor a few weeks ago. She sent him for lab work (all wonderfully normal), and two CT scans; one of his brain, and one of his lower abdomen and legs. I expected something to show on his legs, so wasn't surprised to find narrowing of his distal femoral arteries in both legs (just above his knees).  Our youngest son, a Family Practice physician said we should leave them alone if he can tolerate the coldness, as he doesn't have any pain. The Vascular Surgeon we went to said to readdress this after he gets the other thing looked at/taken care of. His narrowed arteries are serious, but not acute, and not life or limb threatening. But it's the other thing that tossed me around like a rag doll in a tornado. For his sake, I had to pretend normalcy, but inside I was functioning in a fog. Thankfully, that stage has passed. Next moth, we go see a Neuroscience Team at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee for a consultation and to schedule final diagnosis testing. There's a real possibility that DH has a condition called Normal Pressure Hydrocephaly (NPH). I'll let you google that, but it affects several aspects of a person, and if left untreated, well, there's only one outcome... There is treatment, however. It's placement of a shunt in his brain. Having worked as a Surgical Technologist, I know what that is, and how the procedure works. "Minor" brain surgery. 

Meanwhile, I stick close to him. His fall-risk has greatly increased as his gait has substantially worsened in the last few months (a symptom of NPH). And we wait. Full of questions. More full of prayers. Hoping that if his final diagnosis is NPH, that he's a candidate for the shunt. His regular doc, and the radiologist seem to think that's what he's got, but we have to wait for the Neuroscience team's diagnosis. It's going to be a long year. And I don't know if I'll have time or energy to be anything other than a caregiver. Did that sound selfish, or self-pitying? Hope not, that's not what I'm trying to convey. I'm fully equipped, and absolutely willing to care for my beloved in all things. But I may not be able to enjoy crafting and such. As I'm sure you'd agree, my priorities must be elsewhere. I will try to get in here when I can, and visit you all when I can, but it may all be very sporadic. So that's what's been keeping me busy. We're okay; trusting in God's promises to be with us, and to keep us. Since I've taken up a good deal of your time, I'll stop now. Feel free to email me with any questions, and I'll do my best to get back to you. Thanks for listening, and Happy Dances everyone.