Hello, Doily

This card was made with the new background stamp "Hello, Doily" using Whisper White ink on a Crumb Cake card. I layered the flower using the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch and a Whisper White Button. Along the side a tied a Regal Rose 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and the trim on the other side was made with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

Posy Punch

This is one of my favorite new hostess sets called "Posy Punch". The three stamped flowers fit into the Fancy Flower Punch perfectly and oh, so cute! I used Night of Navy and Daffodil Delight. The background paper is from the Flirtatious Specialty DSP line and the trim across the bottom was made with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch topped by some 3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon.

Twister

I just finished this quilt called "Twister". It's so fun to make--you sew 36 squares together and then cut them with a twister template and sew them back together. I bound it on our drive to Michigan and decided to take it out tonight to photograph it. Somebody decided to help! First he just climbed on and sat down like he was waiting for a picnic lunch to begin.

Then, he decided he needed to touch the pieces and the quilting.

Like Linus, Nash thought he would drag this thing around and off he went.

I finally decided I would fold it and drape it over a chair. Normally, this would make a nice picture. He thought this was a great lounging place.

Here's a picture of my quilt lying flat on the floor, after my little helper went to bed.

On Vacay

This is what I've been doing, but I'll return to card making and posting soon. Maybe.

I guess the sand tasted better than the snacks we brought to the beach.

My favorite place at sunset. I probably will have to be dragged kicking and screaming back to Arizona. For sure.

Lakeside

This was my very first house--the one that my parents brought me home to from the hospital. We moved from this house when I was only twelve, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I can recount the hot summer evening sitting in the living room watching the first man walk on the moon. I also remember the day JFK was shot and when they sent us home from kindergarten early, I walked two long blocks to this home. Anyway, in May we drove slowly by so I could take some pictures. The owners happened to be outside and said hello (kind of in a suspicious way). I explained that I grew up in the house and they invited us in. They told us when they were remodeling they had found a postcard from the 1960s and wondered if I knew any of the names on the card. It was addressed to my parents and was sent to them by a cousin visiting Vancouver. They gave it to me as a keepsake and I especially treasure it because both my parents and cousin have passed away. These kind people gave me a complete tour of the house! So, of course, I had to send them a thank you note with a yellow house to match. Even though this jumbo wheel "Neighborhood" just retired, it's still one of my favorites.

Quilt & Winner

I know, what an exciting and creative title for my post. FINALLY, I finished this quilt, and I've been meaning to bind it since, well, awhile. I did it on the way to California on a road trip a couple weeks ago because it usually takes 4 - 6 hours to hand bind a quilt. The fabric is called "Frolic" by Moda and I used the "Swizzle Sticks" pattern. There are LOTS of rectangles and a close up picture on the bottom. Somehow, I feel the need to share the colors I used: Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Tempting Turquoise, and Early Espresso (this won't be funny unless you're a stamper). Now for the winner of the stamp set . . . it's Debbie.

Little Piggy & Give Away

Here's a card I made from one of my favorite new sets called "Button Buddies". All the images are designed to have a button coordinating with them. I used Pretty in Pink and Pear Pizzazz along with four different punches. The words are from "Friendly Phrases", another cute set from the new catalog. I added the new Scallop Dots Ribbon in Pretty in Pink on the bottom. This is a new hostess set that you can earn, but you can also leave me a comment to enter your name in a drawing to win it. I will draw a name and announce the winner on Friday night.

Wheel Builders

Here are three new wheel builders: Henry (top), Albert (middle), and Chloe (bottom). These all fit on the Jumbo Wheel Handle. I stamped the top two in Soft Suede and the bottom one in Tangerine Tango. Then I stamped more argyles and flowers in Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, and Soft Suede, cut them out, and adhered them on top. I added brads to the flowers and popped them up with Dimensionals. Don't you love the new style of 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon? It's available in all of the new In Colors. The background was made with the new Houndstooth Embossing Folder.

Best of Everything

Hot off the press--I just got it today from the new 2011-2012 Catalog & Idea Book! It's called "Best of Everything" and has ten stamps including this cute little birdie, a tree, some flowers, a button, a berry, and some words. I used ALL the new "In Colors" on a Crumb Cake card with my sewing machine adding the trim. The colors from top to bottom are: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, and Wisteria Wonder. I used the coordinating "Buttons & Blossoms" Jumbo Wheel for the background. I also added a new Designer Printed Brad which comes in the five above colors. Finally, I used the Scallop Edge Border and Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punches.

Cats

Now these are the kind of cats (catamarans) that I like! We were in California for the holiday weekend and this is what I absolutely loved watching on the Pacific Ocean. We were hanging out on the beach right near the launching spot and I just couldn't get enough--it was 77, sunny, breezy, and the sails would catch the wind and just float away.

Red, White, & Blue

This card was made with the "July Fourth" stamp set from last summer. I used Real Red and Night of Navy, many circle punches, and coordinating brads. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Follow Up on "52"

We're halfway through the year and here's my follow up to my original post on January 1. I set goals in different areas and broke them up into 52 weeks. I haven't followed the plan exactly but I feel like I've accomplished much. I have learned 26 hymns/songs, walked at least 10 miles each week--I missed two weeks due to traveling. I reorganized around 20 different things in the house such as the DVDs, my fabric, the kitchen cupboards, my shoes, etc. We have actually had a date (movie, restaurant, park) once a week. I also listed my top 52 movies of all time. It's funny because most of them were either musicals or romantic comedies . . . and yes, I've probably watched half of them already. What I haven't done so well is journaling. I have found it's easier to write things in the computer rather than in an actual journal. I just need to take my short thoughts and make them into stories. Good thing the year is only half over--I have six months to work on the rest of the goals!