iGraduated

Yesterday, my sweet little man graduated from Kindergarten.  I think someone must have hit the fast forward button because I can't believe it's already June!!   He's had such a great year and I'm so very proud of him.  Let me tell you, people....Kindergarten is HARDCORE!!   Last week, I spent an entire day in his classroom and got to experience his day right alongside him.  Those kids have full schedules that are jammed packed with learning and activities...they go FULL-THROTTLE the entire day.  I was so exhausted that afternoon when we arrived home from school that I immediately fell asleep on the sofa...I'm not cut out for Kindergarten!!  LOL

Here's the card I made, Nathan to celebrate his graduation.  I started with a Smokey Shadow cardstock base and layered with Taffy cardstock using my Perfect Layers tool.  The There She Goes - ConGRADulations stamp set image was colored with Copics, cut out and then popped up using foam tape.  I chose designer papers from My Mind's Eye (Oliver) since these were his schools colors.  I stamped the sentiment on a fishtail banner and added the year using MFT's By the Numbers die-namics.  

I'm a little sad that this chapter on his "babyhood" is coming to a close, but he's so ready to be a big kid.  And for the first time he's about to experience the magic that is Summer - all of those lazy days filled with fun and most importantly NO School!!   As for me?  I'm not gonna lie about how excited I am about getting to sleep in today!!  ;)  

As a previous TSG Trendsetter I'm always looking to play along with their challenges and since I kept things pretty close to CAS (Clean and Simple) - I'm going to enter this card into the TSG CAS Challenge going on right now.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

I Love You to the Moon and Back

This school year I've made and tucked these little note cards into Nathan's lunchbox to let him know how much he's loved and that I'm thinking of him.  I'm so sad that this is the last lunchbox note of the year - I cannot believe just how fast Kindergarten flew by.  I. Can. Not.   :(

I started with a True Black cardstock base for this "Out of this World" themed card.  Next I printed out a computer generated sentiment and then cut it out using PTI Spiral Notebook die.  The lined notebook paper was created with PTI's - It's Official stamp set using Baja Breeze ink from Stampin' Up.    The adorable little rocket and moon are both from the Your Next Stamp's - What Not Celebrate Die Set.  I added a rhinestone flourish which I then rainbow colored using my Copics and created  "stars" using Silver Stickles.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Thank U

I had so much fun with this months YNS release that my mojo was overflowing!!   I thought I'd pop in with a quick post and show you another quick and easy card I created with the A+ Teacher Stamp Set.

Being a school supply geek, I'm madly in love with this new WhatNot Back to School die set.  I could create a 100 different cards with all of the fun dies in this one set.  And what about the new YNS Letter Board die?  This die is so unbelievably versatile!!  With this one die - you get a grid, individual letters and symbols, as well as tiles with negative letters that you can use to create Scrabble like tiles (as I have done here).  I inked the edges of the tiles with Photo Vintage ink and used Pop dots behind the tiles for dimension.  A pop of red was added with the Saddle stitched ribbon from Papertrey Ink and as always my cards mats were created using my Perfect Layers tool.

You know that Teacher Appreciation week and the end of school are just around the corner...so why not get a head start on all those For the teacher projects with these fantastic new stamps and dies ?

Remember that you still have time to participate in the YNS March Release Blog Hop for your chance to win a release prize pack.  Please visit the YNS Blog to see more After Party Fun Friday projects.

And don't forget to take advantage of the awesome special that is going on right now!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

You really measure up!

The Ribbon Carousel Crewmates are teaming up with the talented designers from Whimsie Doodles to bring you a blog hop jam packed with crafty eye candy!  

I cannot tell you how excited I was for this blog hop with Whimsie Doodles.  A few months ago Melyssa offered this adorable digital freebie, Measure Up.  I knew the minute I saw it, that it would make a perfect image for one of Nathan's lunch box note cards!!   Who knew that a little earthworm would be this much fun to color?!?!   The sentiment was computer generated using the I Still Believe font.  And this seemed like the perfect opportunity to use the measuring tape cotton twill ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel.  :)  The entire image was fussy cut and popped up with foam tape for dimension. The inside paper panel was created using the Perfect Layers tool.

Copics Used:

Worm: E47, E44, E43, E42, E41, E40

Cheek/Belly/Band: RV95, RV93, RV91

Eyes/Grass: YG97, YG95, YG93, YG21

Ruler: YR24, Y26, Y21, YR30

Now, lets talk prizes!   

Hop along with us today and leave some blog love for our Ribbon Carousel Crewmates and the Whimsie Doodle designers to be eligible to win one of the 2 prizes up for grabs!  We'll select 2 random commenters from 2 randomly selected designer blog, so be sure to spread the love around!

The Whimsie Doodles prize is a $25 Gift Certificate to the Whimsie Doodles store, and the RC prize is a $25 Gift Certificate to the RC store! 

Ready to Hop?!

 Click HERE before you leave to enter my Blog Candy Giveaway!! 

First Day of School

I'm the hostess with the mostess this week at the Ribbon Carousel and I want to see all those school themed cards and projects.  

I've created a card to give to my son on his first day of Kindergarten and knew that Mo Manning's, To School would be perfect image to use.  I started with a card base of Bazzill's Peanut Cluster cardstock and accented with a layer of Candy Bar.  I added lots of textures with the scrap of corrugated paper, large button, Alphabet Twill and Brown grosgrain ribbon.  The sentiment is a chipboard sticker from my stash and the designer paper is from My Mind's Eye Six by Six (Away We Go) collection.

  

As I mentioned, Nathan started Kindergarten last week.  

I've known this day was coming.  For months I've been dreading and preparing for this day and yet - this day took me by complete surprise.  Without a doubt, the tears I shed and sadness I felt over my "baby" starting a new chapter in his life were totally expected.  But what was so surprising was how much he looked like a big kid, how deeply I missed him during the day and the sobering realization at just how quickly 5 years has gone by.  But I have to say that his confidence and contagious excitement about going to school for the very first time was the nicest surprise.  

I hope my creation has inspired to you play along with us this week at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog,  Remember, your creation can be anything you'd like, just be sure you use ribbon, bakers twine, lace, thread...(anything that comes on a spool) using a Back to School theme.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Do Great Things

WOW!!  I can hardly believe that it's been two weeks since my last blog post.

My husband surprised the kids and I with a little impromptu vacation the week before school started.  We all had such a great time and it was just what I needed...a blogging/crafting break for some much needed family time. 

My "baby", Nathan started Kindergarten last week and he's been so excited about taking his lunch each day.  I've made a goal for myself to tuck a little lunch box note card in his lunchbox every Monday.  My plan is to have each 3" x 3 1/2" card to maintain a simple and yet similar design.  I can't go getting too elaborate knowing the little notes will most likely end up in the trashcan.  ;)  

 This week, I used our There She Goes challenge sketch along with the newly released TSG stamp set, Enjoy Life - By the Sea.  I think the sentiment is so uplifting and makes the perfect note of encouragement!  I started with a base of Bazzill's Rock Candy cardstock and then accented with Jawbreaker and Robin's Egg cardstock.  The notebook page was created using stamps and a die from Papertrey Ink.  Some Gray Mist vintage seam binding was tied into a knot and the sentiment panel was popped up with foam tape.

Need more inspiration to help you get started?  Then stop by the TSG Blog to see the amazing samples that the other Trendsetters have created this week and then play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Surprise! New Stamps Released Today!

Hi Everyone!  I don't normal post this late in the evening, but Karen decided to surprise everyone and release the June images a day early!!

This sweet thing is called Geek But Unique and I totally LOVE him!!  xoxo  

I know that school is out now, but I thought he'd make a great card for that special Student of the Month.  I've popped him and his books up with foam tape and added Glossy Accents to his glasses.  :) The fun button and DP are both from October Afternoon- Schoolhouse.  And my very favorite...CORK was used for the border and arrow.  The sentiment was computer generated and then cut using a banner die.

Release Info:  Karen is offering a 10% Discount with the code YNSJUNENR through Monday June 20th.  And if you head over to the YNS Blog, you'll find more fun samples from the DT using the new release images.  You could also win this new image by entering your name into the linky widget.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!