Happy Birthday Sandie!

Hello there...I'm back to preview two new sets from CAS-ual Fridays today, but before I get to showing you those sets...I need to stop and wish my dear cousin, Sandie, a happy, happy birthday!  I've posted this card last week so hopefully it has arrived and she is celebrating big for her day.  I'm sending her lots of love for a fabulous year!  Be sure to pop on over to her blog to check out her gorgeous creations!

This card was made using CAS-ual Elegance stamps.

Now, I have two new background stamp sets to share with you.  I love background stamps.  The first set is Houndstooth.  I also love stamping gradient backgrounds.  I also had fun adding different types of textured elements...cork, twine (inspired by this twine flower on Pinterest) and a touch of burlap ribbon.  I finished the card off with a sentiment from Frankly Dear.

For my second card, I used the Zigs & Zags sets...so many fun chevron patterns on this set.   This is a perfect card for one of my nieces.  Nice and girly!  The sentiment is from Mums the Word set.

Be sure to pop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog to check out the rest of the design team's creations and the chance to win CAS-ual Fridays goodies!

It's Never Too Late to Re-Boot!

Some days you just need a "do over".  Well, I'll tell you what...Michelle designed a super fund set, Tech Talk, just for those occasions. I went ultra CAS for my card today.  I think the sentiment speaks for itself.  Too bad we can't ctrl-alt-delete and forget a mistake we've made!  Wouldn't that be fun!

 

There are lots of great sentiments and coordinating keyboard stamps!  Be sure to pop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog for the chance to win and to check out the design team cards! 

Congrats! On Your Graduation!

Graduation time is here...and does CAS-ual Fridays have the first stamp set, Brickworks, just for the occasion.  I love the graphic elements combined with the perfect sentiments. There are so many cool designs you could do with this stamp set...the brick backgrounds allow you to create a visual of taking their next step along the road in life. Love, love, love it!

I had fun using these wooden buttons to go with the card along with a sweet little bag for a gift card holder.  Pop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog to check out the design team's creations and for the chance to win!  You won't be disappointed!

Today, He's 16.

Today, my beautiful boy, Ryan, turns 16 and I have to admit to being a bit emotional.  Sixteen feels like a big milestone to me and I know before I blink he'll be moving out of the house for college.  There are definitely still days when I think to myself, "How can I be old enough to have a 16 year old?  Let alone qualified!"  Thankfully, God certainly has a way of easing us into parenthood.

{six months old}

When I think of Ryan over the years, I think of this sweet little boy that had a smile that melted our hearts at a very young age, always wanting to be outside. Standing at our back door, "I go outside, I go outside, I GO OUTSIDE!"  He didn't always understand that just because the sun was shining it wasn't freezing!

{on a family trip to Deep Creek, MD...he was actually really mad at this point...can't remember why!}

A little boy who is social, regularly getting his friends together to play a game of wiffle ball in the backyard.

A big brother (that may have found his little brothers quite annoying at times) whose little brothers admire him.

{Shaw Farm Pumpkin Patch 2006}

A boy with a very special relationship with his cousins.

{after a shopping trip with Madeleine and Elizabeth...the first of many! 2009}

{days of the long hair...with Connor and Jonathon getting ready for a 5K}

An older boy who amazed us with his ability to throw runners out from catcher on the baseball field or who pitched tremendous games of baseball.

{summer 2011}

And most recently a teenager with passion for music.  One who has continued to amaze us with his musical and acting abilities.

{Saturday night performing a duet at the show choir fundraiser}

{Spring 2011...the villain in the school play...Doc Holiday}

A young man who has always had a perspective a bit older than his age. A young man who doesn't hesitate to initiate an "I love you Mom" to me or reciprocate an I love you from me.  A young man who understands the value of family...as he said in my mother's day card, "I know we argue sometimes, but we're family and at the end of the day, I will always love you."

I'm so proud of the young man he is becoming.  Here's to many, more years of birthday celebrations for my oldest boy!  I love you Ryan.

And here's his super CAS birthday card inspired by the CASE this Sketch design for this week.

Frankly, My Dear

It's the second week of the month...and guess what that means!  It's time for another CAS-ual Fridays sneak peek week! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.  We have five sets to preview this week and I had fun getting inky with them! The first set is called Frankly Dear and you will adore the sentiments!

I made the sentiment the highlight of my card and also had fun creating a background with one of the images as well.  You won't be disappointed by the versatility of this set...be sure to pop on over the CAS-ual Fridays blog to check out what the team has created!

Way to Go!

Hello there and happy, happy Monday!  I'm hoping for a nice, sunny week so that we can spend lots of time at the baseball field. Last week featured lots of rain outs...so we need to get some gains in quickly! 

Since it's Monday, it's also time for another PaperSmooches Sparks Challenge. This week is we have a great sketch.  My first thought was to replace the banners with flowers (but I use flowers a lot...) so I decided to change it up a bit!

Instead of flowers I went with speech bubbles from the He Said, She Said said.  I had fun using a touch of patterned paper.  The sentiment is from the Sentiment Sampler set.    Let me tell you that sentiment set has seen a lot of love from me!  

Pop on over to the PaperSmooches Sparks challenge site and play along!  To check out the designs of the team, be sure to click on their links below!

Lisa Arana

Jessica Bavier

Vera Wirianta Yates

Savannah O'Gwynn

Happy Mother's Day

Hello friends!  I hope everyone is having an absolutely wonderful Mother's Day today!  The boys started my day with breakfast in bed and handmade cards from all of them. Marcel's card made me laugh...he filled out a question and answer sheet from school and it said, "My mom is smarter than a bumble bee."  Love their analogies. The best is them explaining why they wrote/colored something just for me.  Makes my heart so happy!

I had some time to craft this morning so I'm popping it to share two cards.  The first is for Pat's mom.  She loves all things blue so of course her mother's day card had to have blue on it!  It follows the Fusion Card Challenge Sketch.

The card below is for a dear friend who recently lost his dad to dementia.  So sad, but also a blessing for him.  He was very devoted to his father.  This card is inspired by CASE this Sketch and Maile's fabulous CASE Study card that is a gorgeous tone on tone sympathy card.   

Enjoy your beautiful Mother's Day!  I'm off for a pedicure with my wonderful mum in just a bit!