So.  My littlest sister is graduating from high school tomorrow.  Wow.  I cannot believe it.

That is her.  On the left.  With the ridiculous red wax lips.  I got those in the mail-room at OBU.  I worked there through my college career and someone put a bunch of those in the campus mail for us to distribute.  There was one without an ‘address’ and we didn’t know who to send it back to, so my supervisor said I could have it.  I had to have it cause I knew Lauren would like it.  And, when I sent it home, I put a note that told mom she had to take a picture of her with them.  And, it’s been on my desk ever since.  My desks have changed, but the picture has been on it FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.  (And, you can see, I need a new picture frame…)

Here is a more ‘recent’ photo…

I made this card in MDS.  For her graduation open house.  And, as you can see, most of the talent is in the great photo… but…  I will take whatever credit I can get.

Here’s what I made to send her.  It’s a surprise, so don’t spill the beans (she graduates in several hours, so it’s probably gonna be okay…)

The card is one you’ve seen before.  It’s from Sale-A-Bration.  When I made the card a few months ago, I knew at that moment that I was going to save it for her.  The lei I made…  a co-worker showed me several years ago how to make a haku lei (that’s a lei-making style of ‘weaving’ flowers together–and traditionally is worn around the head.)  However, I made this a lei to go around the neck.  And, being that KANSAS is 5000 miles away from here, I had to make and mail it on Monday.  And, thanks to the great people over at the USPS, it arrived it on Thursday.  And, mom said other than being a little ‘compressed’ it looked pretty good.  I credit this to all my friends who have the flower knowledge who told me what flowers to buy that were a bit heartier than others…

Here’s a close-er up…

I JUST LOVE the sentiment on the card…. Congratulations, Smarty Pants.  It’s perfect.

So, my baby sister… (well, they are all the baby sisters, since I’m the oldest), but she will be the last of the  Brown girls to go to Oklahoma Baptist University.  ALL four of us went there.  My parents should get a punch card… buy 3 the fourth free???

Anyway, I am very proud of her.  I’m proud of who she has become.  And, in many ways, there is a bit of sadness for me in this…that I cannot be there… that 5000 miles has separated us for nearly ALL of her growing-up years. I got to watch her grow and change in a very unique way that the distance has given me… a different perspective.  Since I didn’t actually LIVE with her for the last 17 years of her life, I feel that I got to see things more objectively (well, I realize that isn’t the correct word, but vocabulary is failing me right now)… But, I never actually engaged with her in the traditional ‘sisterly’ way…  (ie… stealing clothes, make-up, brawls, fighting over the telephone, tv… etc…) (Okay, now that makes it sound like me and my other two sisters hated each other, which is NOT the case, we just had the more traditional relationship cause WE WERE ALL BORN IN THE SAME DECADE…)  So, I got to see her grow, change, make decisions, learn, I’ve proofread her homework….  It’s REAL interesting.  Fun.  And, I’m excited to see what else is in store for her.

She has this verse on the wall in her bedroom:

^” But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

And, this is my prayer for her… that as she continues on into this next chapter in her life, she will wait on the Lord… for his guidance, direction, wisdom.  And, that she will use the strength He gives to soar.  Cause she will.  And, I’m excited.

I love you, Lauren…

Okay, so it’s not Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny, but it it IS polkadot!!!

LOVE THE DRESS FRAMELIT!!  I wanted to share with you what one of my stamp club members, Harriette Anzai, made as a favor for the club meeting at which she was hostess…

 

Aren’t they SO cute.  She made a little box that goes in between the dresses and it holds a chapstick.  The box could easily be adapted to hold anything.  Dress Up Framelits Die (130101)

 

 

Then bagged in the gusseted cello bag, (item 127850) and tied with the Crochet Trim (# 118481).  That pretty rosette, is the 5/8″ Flower trim (Item 126869) from the Spring Occasions catalog.  And, ladies, it’s wonderful.  AND… it’s NOT in the new catalog… Therefore, you have until 5/31 to stock up on your supply.  You can use it as a string of flowers or cut them apart for just a tiny embellishment.  AND, oh… the gusseted cello bag didn’t make it to the new catalog… they are $3.95 for 25…. you might wanna stock up on those too…

 

Here is a close up of just one.  I like how Harriette made the tag and then stuck it to the outside.  So often I think it has to be tied on, and it doesn’t.  The scallop oval frames the plain white card-stock thank you…  Hard to see in the picture cause the scallop oval coordinates with the dress.  But, super cute.

 

Here is a picture of the top, so you can see the box with the chapstick.  Do you think I can quit my day job and become a hand model??  Probably  not.  At least it’s not covered in staz-on.

Anyway, Thanks HARRIETTE, for these super cute favor ideas.  Yet another idea of how to use the dress.  If you really like the dress, I would recommend you take a look at these:  The All Dressed UP Birthday Kit!!

 

You get EVERYTHING shown in the picture… enough to make 6 birthday cards.  AND, you will have the stamp and ink to use on future projects…   All Dressed Up Birthday Kit (item 133913) $15.95…

 

Check back on Sunday for our next Blog Tour.  BEST OF BUTTERFLIES…. it’s the next installment of the Anniversary Best Of Stamp Sets.  See ya!!

So.  Those of you that know me know I was born and raised in the mid-west.  Kansas to be exact.  THE FARTHEST PLACE ONE CAN GET FROM AN  OCEAN IN OUR COUNTRY.  Seriously.  So, when this stamp set, By the Tide, was selected, I had a miniature panic attack.  Cause what the heck do I do with a lobster.  I have no idea how to eat them, prepare them, or even how to ORDER them.  I’m not even sure I’ve had lobster… probably have, especially at some buffet or something like that, but I don’t recall…..  And, until I moved to Hawaii and actually had REAL fish, I thought I hated all seafood (cause all I had to compare it to was catfish…which, if you like catfish, my apologies for the offense.  I, however, do not like it.  not one bit.)

ANYWAY, so I had to do something with a lobster.  I realize there are other stamps in this set, but I had to make it a personal goal of mine to make something with a lobster.  LOBSTER.  WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A LOBSTER?????  Looking at my favorite inspiration sites (aka pinterest) I found lots of New-England Coastal scene.  Which was really nice… BUT, I am also unfamiliar with that TOO.  Remember.  Kansas.  Not New England.

So, I made it a point to do something unexpected with a lobster.  And, my first thought was to pair it with melon mambo.  Cause I didn’t see ANY of that color on the pinterest search.  And, this is what I came up with.

 

An IN YOUR FACE PINK AND BLACK (melon mambo and basic black) card with LOBSTERS.  Cause you wanna make a statement.  Send this card and I guarantee you will get a phone call… asking what do the lobsters mean?  So, here’s your chance to come up with something  REALLY funny.  Or just simply say, “they were to get you to call!!!”  Cause what do you do with a LOBSTER.  (I’ve polled several people, and the only answer I got was to EAT it.  Hum… )

 

 

So, here are some details on how to make the card.  The card base is made from melon mambo.  I cut basic black and whisper white panels to go on the inside.  Then folded a portion of the melon mambo front over.  I think I trimmed off about 1/2″ inch too, just to make it a little smaller.  Can you see the 3 scored lines?  Stampin’ Score.  Makes it SUPER easy to do neat scoring texture.  I added a scallop trim border.  Those buttons… those are the silver Basic Designer Buttons (item 129325 for $5.95) from the Spring Occasions Catalog.  I love those buttons.  And, you only have till May 31 to get them….  (or anything else in the Spring Occasions catalog you might want)  I added a little of the taffeta white ribbon on the button, embossed the word HI (from Fabulous Phrases set, 120501) onto the curly label punch.  And, that it it.

 

This next card was a little easier… in the sense of making something with the other images from the stamp set.  And, despite my resolution to try and NOT tempt you with the new colors going to be released, I did not have the willpower to do so.  WHAT YOU ARE SEEING HERE ARE SOME OF THE NEW COLORS.  Aren’t you LOVING them?  And now mad at me for showing them to you and making you wait until June 1 to buy??

The card base for this was naturals ivory.  It has a very earthy feel.  And, then I used Pistachio Pudding as the pale green layer and Coastal Cabana as the brighter green that has the “Miss You” stamp.  And the seashell stamp.  Brown Sugar ink was used for the wording stamps and crumb cake for the seaweed plant.  Those spots… that was a stamp from the My Paper Pumpkin Welcome Kit.  Which is marvelous.

 

Can you see the texture on this?  I used that canvas creations paper.  (item 129375)  Which is really not paper.  It’s kind-of a cross between paper and canvas… but really more canvas.  Maybe it is.   Who knows.  It doesn’t have the rigidity of paper… when you take it out of the package it definitely flops about.  But, it can be easily cut on the trimmer.  And, I love it cause you can fray the edges… just pull out some of the fibers.  There seem to be two different surfaces…one definitely has more texture than the other.  I used the more texture one.  I love it…gives a very earthy feel (I’m using that term for lack of a better word….)  I don’t FEEL very well right now, some cold that’s been going around.  Which I’m sure is why I’m having a more difficult time than normal figuring out something appropriate to do with lobsters…and figuring out the correct vocabulary to use for describing what I am trying to say…

I love the new colors, both the in-colors and the color refresh SU is doing.  It will definitely be lots of fun creating new things with these new products.

 

I think I win the prize for having the two most miss-matched cards from the same stamp set.  But, I did that on purpose (snort…).  Shows VERSATILITY.  And, I wouldn’t be anything if I weren’t versatile.     I don’t even know what I am saying.  Methinks it is time for more medication and an nap…..

Enjoy your next stop on the tour.  You’re off to see what Deb Leigh has for  you.  Click on the button below… or if that doesn’t work, there is a list…

 

 

 

So.  I have both my clubs meeting this weekend.  And, it’s Wednesday night.  And, I still have NO idea what they are going to make.  And, I’m trying to put stuff together and nothing is coming and I’m frantically combing pinterest, stampin’ connection, and all my favorite stampin’ bloggers.  Nothing.  Nothing at all.

And, I’m so INVOLVED in scouring these interwebular spectacular inspiration-starters that I don’t notice that my arm has been resting on my staz-on ink pad.  BLACK STAZ-ON INK PAD.  For several minutes.

 

That’s my arm.  With a big, black, permanent rectangle.  And an outline of a rectangle.  I’ve tried to get it off.  But, it didn’t come off.

Tomorrow is gonna be a long-sleeve day.

sigh.

 

And, if you wanna see if I actually survive my hobby until the weekend, check back THIS SUNDAY for the Next Installment of the BEST OF stamp tour.  This month we will feature ‘Best of Flowers’.

 

 

Well…  Up until SU posted the color refresh, I knew what stamp I had to use for this month’s Stamp of the Month Blog Tour, but had NO IDEA what color pallet to use.

Then, SU SAVES THE DAY.  (They seem to do that a lot for me)

The color refresh got me to thinking that I should use some the colors I loved, but have kinda ‘strayed away’ from in light of the new in-colors and what have you.  Kinda feel sorry for the ‘main-stay colors’  Though moving from an IN-Color to a  color collection definitely must be a promotion….  I would think the color collection colors must feel, hum, how shall we say, over-looked in the newness of things?  The ‘red-headed step child’???  NEVER.  I could not imagine… but alas, I was at fault for LOVING our in colors and not always remembering to use the main-stays.  Forgive Me.  I hope there are no hard feelings.

ANYWAY…

Secret Garden.  IT’s LOVELY.  Page 17 in the Spring Occasions Catalog.  It has Framelits Dies to match…. and therefore comes as a bundle (dies and stamps–15% off if you buy them together–and if you buy today, you won’t pay shipping).  woo-hoo.  ANYWAY.  I love this flower set.  Extremely versatile.  Has both solid and outline flowers.  Leaves on a stem, and those leaves can be easily trimmed off to be separate leaves.  And, some of the flowers can really be made to look tropical (an PLUS if you are living in Hawaii and you need some tropical themed cards).  SO.  Here it is…

I made 3 cards:

The color scheme is the now retiring More Mustard and Riding Hood Red.  And, I also used Soft Suede (not retiring).  I did the bottom and right card in the ‘one-sheet-wonder’ technique.  This is an AWESOME technique. if you have never tried it.  You stamp a sheet of whisper white or very vanilla ALL over with your images.  Then you cut it and use it like a dsp.  And the two cards are basically the same… just the exact opposite in composition… The bottom one has a dark background and light strip, and the right one has a light background and dark strip.  Then, flipped from  horizontal to vertical… SO, you can see how different you can make a card look just by altering something VERY simple.  This one-sheet-wonder technique would let you make SETS of cards (think gifts, favors, etc… Mother’s Day, Teacher Appreciation, and END OF SCHOOL is COMING!!–and as a teacher, I can say, a set of beautiful, hand-made cards would be an awesome teacher appreciation gift!!).  ANYWAY, I digress… here are some closer pictures.

I added some subtle texture with the honeycomb embossing folder.  (LOVE IT) and used the soft suede taffeta ribbon for the knot.  The Labels are dimmensionaled to make it stand up a bit…

Here is the companion card.  I trimmed the label tags to just peak out under the ribbon….

I also have to show you the 3rd card I made…My inspiration for this one was a invitation I made for my mother-in-law’s 50th birthday party using the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp set from a couple years ago.  I enjoyed that set.  And, I was happy to see this one, cause it pays homage to a wonderful stamp set (this one is NICER cause it has both outline and solid stamps…AND FRAMELITS).

Anyway, here is the card:

Simple.  Delicate.  LOVE IT>  Sometimes simple is good.  This would make a good sympathy card now that I think of it.  (I need to make some sympathy cards…. it’s on the brain…)

Here is a picture of all the cards, including the invitation from a few years ago…just so you can see.

More Mustard, Riding Hood Red… though you may be gone, you will not be forgotten…

But, we must not tarry… on to the next blog tour!!  (AND WOW.  I cannot believe I did all that without using the framelits.  They are fabulous… even though they weren’t displayed….)

Click on the image here to take you to the next blog.  If it doesn’t work, there is a list of the people on the tour… you can move along ‘old school’.