You're Bee-utiful

Here's my card using 2Sketches4You sketch this week. I used Unity's June KOTM again. I really like this set. The sentiment to go with the bee is just adorable and I can think of many sweet friends I can give this to. God has blessed me with many dear girlfriends, who are beautiful both inside and out.

I used My Mind's Eye papers. I bought a stack of 180 gorgeous papers for less than $10! Wow, I was like a kid in a candy store when I went to my first visit to Hobby Lobby. I am so glad I don't live in the US, or I would be spending all my money there!

I stamped, cut out and popped the bee out, which follows the Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday challenge this week. It's kind of hard to see, but I paper pierced the bee trail. The colors I used are Old Olive and Baja Breeze CS, and Ruby Red ink. This color combo is sort of a muted version of the Color Throwdown's combo this week (Kiwi Kiss, Really Red and Tempting Turquoise).

ENABLER ALERT: Make sure you check out GinaK Designs store. They are having a huge sale on 7 of their stamp sets from today until Monday. You can find more info on Gina's blog. She's also offering a huge blog candy.

Summer Cherries and Stamps for Sale

Here's a card I made a couple of weeks ago using Unity's June KOTM. I just love coloring these cherries using Sharpie markers. I know I'm being a rebel for not having jumped on the Copics bandwagon :-). Actually, I did get on it for a little bit, but then got off quickly. I'm not patient enough to do the shading and blending...:-). I haven't given up on them entirely, but have put them on hold for now.

The red and white papers, red ribbon are from the latest StampTV kit. The green CS is Certainly Celery. The button is from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie buttons.

I had fun shopping yesterday, but didn't really find anything I had to have. I did buy a pair of Converse shoes for my oldest. I remember when I thought those were geeky, but now they are trendy, I guess.

I just want to let you know that I have these sets for sale over at SCS. They are all old, retired SU that come in their plastic containers, all gently use from a pet-free, smoke-free home:

A Greeting for all Reasons - $10
A Little Love - $5
All I Have Seen - $5
Anytime Greetings - $5
Close to Nature - $5
Fall Feast - $8
From the Heart - $7
Gifted Greetings - $7
Gifted Glove - $10
Hearts and Posies - $8
Little Hellos - $7
Mini Borders (foam stamps) - $1
Mini Messages - $5
Nice & Easy Notes - $10
Nice & Narrow - very stained rubber and some on wood - $7
Occasionally - $5
Ornate Ornaments - $8
Seasonal Patches - $5
Smorgasborders - $5
Thank You Blocks - $5
Weather or Not - $7
Winter Patches - $5
Year round Cheer (missing "Miss You" and "thank you") - $5

Priority Shipping is $4.95 for the first set and $11.00 for 2 - 4. These all must go, so make me an offer I can't refuse :-). Let me know if you are interested.

Squigglefly on Sheetloads of Cards

Guess what? Squigglefly is sponsoring Sheetloads of Cards this month. And on the cover of Sheetloads is Shelly's beautiful card with my drawing available through Squigglefly. Make sure you check out the Squigglefly blog as they post challenges weekly.

Have a great day! I'm off to shop at one of the biggest outlet malls in GA. I'm giddy with excitement as I only get to do this once every 3-4 years when we're back here. Also, my Croatian friend, Irena, and I are taking a Wilton's cake decorating class at our local Hobby Lobby. I know I shouldn't start another hobby, but maybe I'll learn something there that I can use on my cards :-).

What an amazing coincidence!

Before I show you my card, I want to let you know about my very dear friend, Lisa's Christmas in July blog candy. She's giving away the new InColor markers, holiday papers, glitter and glue - all SU products. And she's offering a sale on SU Christmas-themed stamps, too.

I've been so busy filling in card orders that I haven't had time to post here for a few days. I made this card for one of those orders. My color inspiration comes from Travelingmama's Travel Inspiration Challenge.


After making about 8 of these, I decided to take a break and look at my favorite challenges. And look at what I found for this week's Card Patterns? It's like I made the card, then drew the sketch based on it! Weird, isn't it?


Card Supplies:
Stamps: Urban Prairie Stamps
Paper: Pink Passion, Certainly Celery
Others: MS punch, Blush ribbon

Lovely as a tree

One of my blogging friends and talented artist, travelingmama, has a new travel inspiration challenge to use one of your travel photos as inspiration for a project. I used this photo of my oldest last year in Croatia. Since we live there, I'm not sure if this qualifies as our travel photo. My husband and I moved there almost 11 years ago and it's the only home our girls have ever known.

I remember this day very well. She was working hard to get the sweet cherries from our tree, while her younger sisters were anxiously trying to catch the ones she picked (or dropped :-)).

Here is my card as inspired by the photo above. I just love this quote. Time goes by so fast and I wish I have a pause button for my sweet girls, so they don't grow up too fast. But, I am thankful that I have been made aware of this (though I know I forget sometimes), and I try to enjoy every moment with them. And how grateful I am to live in the digital age that allows me to capture these sweet times in our family life.

Stamps: Live simply (Hero Arts), June KOTM (Unity)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Sharpie markers
Paper: Certainly Celery CS by SU, Red and White CS (GinaK Designs)
Others: border punch (Martha Stewart), button (PTI), ribbon (Michaels)