Fun in the Sun!

 Good morning! I'm trying to force Summer here with some beachy cards! LOL I don't know about you, but sometimes just sitting in the sunshine can change my perspective from feeling crappy to having hope. These are strange times we're living in, and I often wonder what kind of world my grandkids are going to pass on to their kids and grandkids, and I lose sleep over stuff like that. It's hard for me to turn it off. This has been a tough year for sure. I received a RAK from my fellow Roadie (Ink Road Stamps FB fan group) Cindy the other day that made me cry but also reassured me of the basic goodness of most people. This was the card she sent me:

When Sage first passed away, I was inundated with cards, texts, phone calls, etc. But people are only human and have their own lives and they go on with them and the messages stop. But the grief definitely doesn't. I feel very alone in my grief most days, and some days it hits me harder than others. So this was just a really well-timed sympathy card that was so appreciated.

Anyway.

I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

The 4 Seasons - Mood Board/Anything Goes Summer

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Feathers, Fur, and/or Flowers

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Inspiration Station #74 

Cheerful Sketches June

I followed the sketch from Cheerful Sketches and used designer papers from Doodlebug Designs. I printed out an old digi from CC Designs back when it was called All That Scraps - the image is called Sugar Plum Surfer Emma. I colored her with Copics and fussy cut her before attaching to the die cut deckled edge circle. I added some gemstone stickers and flower brads. Peace.

play, eat, chill, repeat

 We had such a nice weekend - it was pretty cold at the beach but we walked around the boardwalk a bit.  RaeRae woke up feeling crappy so we stayed at the room most of the day with her so Cassidy could go have some fun. We spent Father's Day at a local brewery with my parents and just relaxed. The weather has just been so strange this year - not typical at all. At least my electric bill won't make me cry this month. LOL

I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Tic Tac Toe #272 (I used die cuts, patterned paper, and enamel sequins)

Cut it Up #332 - Masculine

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - One for the Boys

Creative Moments #271 - Man or Boy

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #304

Papers are from Doodlebug Designs. I used a die cut tag from a coordinating piece of DP. I stamped Teen Swissie from CC Designs (currently on clearance for only $2!!!) with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored him with Copics, fussy cut him and attached to the tag with foam dimensional tape. I stamped the sentiment directly on the DP and added some enamel sequin stickers to finish it off! Peace.

We Click!

 Hey there!  I made this birthday card below for a very special friend. Her name is Janelle and we met about 8 or 9 years ago through the event that my husband and I run. Her husband is our volunteer coordinator and as soon as we met, we became fast friends. She means the world to me - I can tell her anything and she never judges me and is always super supportive. I thought the "We Click!" sentiment was just perfect - this is her birthday card and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges: 

As You Like It - To Add a Sentiment or Not (and why)

I like to add a sentiment so that I have pre-made cards ready to go for certain holidays, events, etc.

I Love ProMarkers #585 - Anything Goes/Optional Summer Time

Creatalicious - Anything Goes/Optional Use Stars

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes/Optional Topping of Fancy Fold

Passion for Markers #792 - Use a Circle

I created my background by using the ink smooshing technique. I stamped Snapshot Anya from The Greeting Farm with Versafine Black and all the other stuff with Versafine Black or Oxide Inks and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape.  Peace.

Always Show Your True Colors

 Good morning!  Off to the beach today - wish me luck staying warm as it's not expected to get above 60 degrees!  LOL  But my little Lisey wants us there, so we'll bundle up and go! After all, you only turn 5 once! :)

I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Fur, Feathers, and/or Flowers

Passion for Markers - Use a Circle

Crafty Calendar - Add a Sentiment

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, or Blooms

Color Throwdown #834

I created my background by blending Distress Oxide Inks on a piece of watercolor paper, leaving some white in between each layer, then spritzed with water and dabbed with a paper towel. I printed out the adorable Cute Toucan from Lee Holland's Etsy shop, colored with Copics, and used a circle die cut to mat it on the card after sponging the edges with the same Broken China ink. I stamped the sentiment (My Favorite Things) directly on the background with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. Peace.

Head Up Gorgeous!

 Happy Friday! I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Stencil Fun - Anything Goes/Optional Summertime Fun

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Feathers, Fur, and/or Flowers

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Anything Goes/Optional Cute

Creative Knockouts #548 - Stencils/Die Cuts/Punches

Crafty Calendar - Add a Sentiment

I created my background by using my Connected Cogs stencil from the June release at A Colorful Life Designs (use code JennFan10 for 10% off) - I did the pink as a traditional stencil and the blue as a reverse stencil. I stamped the cute flamingo from the Flamingle set at Tracey Hey Designs with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, fussy cut and attached with foam dimensional tape. I stamped the sentiment from the same set directly on the background. Peace.

Happy 5th Birthday Bean!

 Hi everyone! Today is going to be a beautiful day - I can just feel it. :)  My middle granddaughter, Analiz (we call her Lisey or Bean or Beanie or Lisey Beans - hee hee) is turning 5 years old tomorrow, we had pizza and cake for her last night. Lisey is Grammy's Girl - I have a really close relationship with all 3 of my granddaughters, but Lisey... she's just my girl.  This is my Bean as a little chunky baby:

And this is her last weekend at her first dance recital:

Isn't she a PUMPKIN?!?  My daughter says, "I think she likes you better than she likes ME!". hee hee  Cass is taking them all to the beach for 2 nights to celebrate her birthday - we usually have a big cookout for her, but my girl understandably isn't up for a big celebration this year. So, we are going to meet them at the beach on Saturday to spend the day with them. The weather is expected to be 60 degrees.  ROFL You can't make this up. I was all worried about getting a new bathing suit because I've gained a few pounds since buying my last one and I'm not even going to need it. I'll probably spend the day eating fried dough and ice cream and hopefully still fit into THIS one when I get home.  hee hee ;)

Anyway - this is the birthday card I made for her, which I'd like to enter into the following challenges:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

I Love ProMarkers - Anything Goes or Summer

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Daisy Chain - Birthday

Just Us Girls #779 - Word Week/Number

When you ask Lisey what she likes, she says, "um, I only like mermaids and unicorns and bunnies and THAT'S IT!".  hee hee  Mermaid card it is! I showed her about 10 different mermaid stamps I have and she chose this one from The Greeting Farm, which was actually an old freebie digi stamp (I also made her a cool canvas with this same image that I'll share later - there's another whole funny Lisey story behind that one too)! I colored with Copics and fussy cut her before attaching with foam dimensional tape to a background I had already made with yellow alcohol inks and some splatters. The layered piece behind her is a scrap piece of Yupo that I ran through my die cut machine for the faux stitched edges, then applied some teal alcohol ink to it, spritzed it with Gold Mica Spray and adhered some gemstone stickers to it.  The "5" is another die cut. I finished it off with a piece of designer tape along the bottom in coordinating colors. Peace.

Just Roll With It

Good morning! We are off to my daughter's house this afternoon to have pizza and cake for my middle granddaughter's 5th birthday.  My favorite color is purple so her favorite color was purple for the longest time but she informed me recently that "I don't like purple anymore Grammy, I like TEAL!". Kid's got good taste!  LOL That happens to be my second favorite color!

I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Passion for Markers #792 - Add a Circle

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Monochrome

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes

Night Shift Stamping - Stencils and/or DieCuts/Punches

AllSorts #825 - What Makes You Happy/Anything Goes

I love this stencil from A Colorful Life Designs - it's called Op Art Bench and it totally reminds me of a stage or sidewalk (don't forget you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off in the store)! I used my Gel Plate to create the background for this one and spritzed the whole thing with silver Mica Spray Stain. I used a stamp to create the look of movement on the skater girl (from The Greeting Farm), colored her with Copics then fussy cut her and attached with foam dimensional tape. I used a ViewFinder die cut to stamp the sentiment on and attached that with foam dimensional tape as well. Peace.