With Thanks In My Heart

We are wrapping up the month of October at TIME OUT with Challenge #69, a beautiful Inspired By Words Challenge which is all about an attitude of gratitude:

'Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart'

We are graced with the wonderfully talented Karren Johnson of KarrenJ - Stamping Stuff as our Guest Designer. Her designs are fantastic, her coloring is incredible, and her kind and encouraging comments on the creations of others are wonderful. Check out her wonderful blog for a real treat and some great inspiration.

The holiday I love most that we celebrate in the U.S. is Thanksgiving. To me, it is a lovely time of celebration and tradition in which a heart full of gratitude is the center of attention. To many, it is a day to watch football and shop at 3:00 AM, but not for me. It's a day to take TIME OUT to spend with family and friends, to savor the scents and think about the blessings in our lives. It's a hard day for so many as well for so many reasons, as so many holidays and everydays can be, so it's also a day and a time to give of yourself in whatever way you can to be of service to others.

Here is my take on the inspiration:

Please head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog and take a look at what my awesome design teammates have created for your inspiration. Then consider the inspiration words, and play along with us at Time Out.  I am grateful that you stopped by today.

I am also linking this to the following challenges:

 Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which is AUTUMN themed.

Inspired By All The Little Things #29

Supplies used:

Stamps: Concord & 9th Give Thanks

Accessories: PTI Wet Paint Die, Ranger Metallic Spray

Paper: Ranger Ink - Tim Holtz - Distress Woodgrain Paper

Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black

Happy Birthday Greg

Second twin birthday post for today, Greg is a technology hound, as are the majority of teenagers. He's been the technology go-to guy for everyone around him since third grade. I decided to go with an iPhone design for his card. Truly, Greg and Jon's birth day was indeed the best day ever.  Tomorrow is driving test day, and I have been a bit teary today thinking about the way driving will impact MY life in that the boys will be wonderfully independent, but they will not be in my car singing and talking and sharing their day with me in the same way.  New chapter... here we go. Love these guys. Happy birthday from your proud Mama.

Happy Birthday Jon

Today is my twin sons' 17th birthday. Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town.... (Joni Mitchell - Circle Game)

Anyway, Jon LOVES his lattes. I love him a latte. So it seemed only right to make him a latte themed card. CASology's current cue is COFFEE, so put that all together and this is what happened:

How 16 springs and 16 summers have gone by so quickly is a mystery to me, but here we are. Jon is a beautiful young man both inside and out.  This morning I was thinking about tomorrow's driver's test, and what a huge thing that is to both parent and child. I said to Jon, "I will miss you in my car".  And will I ever. Years and years of singing with my boys at the top of our lungs.  Some of the best, funniest and important conversations happened with them in my car. I love you. Please be safe in every way imaginable. As you take this huge step on your way to adulthood, keep me tucked in your heart. Love, Mom.

Happy Birthday T Baby

Here we go with another AAA Cards Challenge! Our CAS (Clean & Simple) Challenge to you is to make a masculine card.

Our sponsor for Challenge #76 is Stampendous

Thank you Stampendous

Our Guest Designer for this game is Joyce from Cards-by-the-Sea.

mas·cu·line

ˈmaskyələn/

adjective

1. 1. 

   having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men, especially strength and aggressiveness.

   "he is outstandingly handsome and robust, very masculine"

   synonyms:

   virile, macho, manly, muscular, muscly, strong, strapping, well built, rugged, robust, brawny, heavily built, powerful, red-blooded, vigorous; informalhunky, testosteronic "a powerfully masculine man"

Here is my take:

This card makes me laugh, just like the little person for whom it was made. This is for my Great Nephew Thomas Flynn, who is a delightful little one year old with the best personality. He's terribly cute and a funny little bundle of love.  What??? Why the graduation hat??? Well, one of my sisters and I were trying to think of a gift for him, and we decided to start a college savings account for him; hence, the graduation cap. So T Baby, you are on your way. In the blink of an eye, it will be time. The sentiment on the inside is "Go. See. Do." from Winnie & Walter.  All images and sentiment on the front of the card are Paper Smooches. Happy Birthday T!!

Please head on over to the AAA Cards Challenge Blog, see what my wonderful teammates have designed for your inspiration, and join in the fun. Get your masculine card craft on and link up to play.  You could be the lucky winner of a Stampendous gift certificate!

Thanks so much for stopping in!

Thank You

I am so pleased and proud to say that I have joined the Time Out Challenges Design Team. Pinch me!! Such an incredible group of talented designers with hearts of gold. I am thrilled to be a part of this team!

My first challenge with Time Out Challenge #68 - a CASE of the wonderful Ardyth

of Masquerade. This is her beautiful card:

We also have a great guest designer with us this week - Marina from My Perfect Life is sharing her inspiration so please stop by her blog.

This is my take on Ardyth's beautiful inspiration piece:

The hibiscus images are from Uniko Studio colored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers. Sentiment is Concord & Ninth.

Now it's your turn to take TIME OUT and craft. Head on over to the Time Out Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team has created for your inspiration, play with us, and link up your creation. 

I am also linking my card to Aileen Ryan's new challenge: The Flower Challenge. This challenge celebrates cards using floral images.  Challenge #1 this month is:

Anything Goes with Florals. Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a lovely one.

Let's Celebrate!

It's time for an new challenge at AAA Cards CAS Challenge Blog! Our theme for Game #75 is a photo inspiration.

Our wonderful sponsor is Happy Little Stampers. 

Our first place winner will receive a $20 Gift Certificate from the HLS Store.

Our Guest Designer is Katerina from Make A Wish. Her challenge card is fantastic, as are the creations of the AAA design team. Please head on over to the AAA CAS Challenge Blog and take a look!

Here is my take:

I had a rainbow watercolored panel in my "snippets box". I die cut it with this wonderful Star Garland Confetti Cuts die from Reverse Confetti. After gluing it onto the white linen cardstock panel, I added clear WOS to the stars. You can't see it in the pic, but it gives it a wonderful little sparkle.  The sentiment is from Winnie & Walter's The Party.

I hope you'll join in on this fun challenge at AAA Cards. Remember to keep it CAS!!!!

I am also linking up to Happy Little Stampers October Anything Goes With Dies Challenge.

Thanks for your visit today!

Saw That.

It's time for another Christmas Challenge at Happy Little Stampers. The theme for October is EMBOSSING.

The challenge is sponsored by:

Here is my take:

I  love this Simon Says Stamp background stamp, which I embossed with WOW Cable Car Red EP. Santa and the light string (Ellen Hutson)  are embossed with Ranger black EP and colored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens. Sentiment from same set is embossed with white EP.

Please head on over to the Happy Little Stampers October Christmas Challenge and leave the wonderful DT some love.  Then try your hand at a Christmas card with embossing, link up, and play with us!

You Are Remarkable

Time Out Challenges celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Challenge #67, a special challenge with the Theme of Breast Cancer Awareness and/or Friendship, with an optional optional technique twist:  embossing and/or use pink.

CASual Fridays is the generous and dedicated sponsor of this special challenge. Please head over the the TIME OUT Challenge Blog to get all the details.

Here is my take:

I love this Flourishes stamp that I have had for years. The beauty of it is, you can customize it for any type of Cancer Awareness or sign of hope for any cause. The wonderful sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp's Hand Lettered Encouragement.

Cancer touches the lives of most people we know in some way. I am a breast cancer survivor myself, am eternally grateful for all of the funding that goes into research, and all of the events and other ways there are to support it. The fight is critical, but we need to remember, that finding a cure for ALL cancers is the ultimate goal.

ATCAS

The image is watercolored with ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Pens.

CWS#7 - The sentiment is such a powerful one to me. This card was made for a dear friend who has been through hell and back on her cancer journey. She truly is remarkable.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anythings Goes.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope your day is remarkable!