Happy Retirement

A very good friend recently retired.  We met at the school bus stop, when our oldest kids were beginning kindergarten, and we've been friends ever since.  (PS our kids are now 36 years old!!) . She moved to North Carolina about 10 years ago.  We recently went to visit.  We have the kind of friendship, that even though we don't see each other nearly enough, it is so easy to be together!

Challenges:
1) Addicted to Stamps and More - photo inspiration:
Oops -- I missed the deadline -- so I'll put this into Addicted to Stamps and More! - Anything Goes

2) CASE this Sketch - 

Card Details:

I used Distress Oxide inks to sponge the background, and sprayed it with Perfect Pearls spray. 

The chair is from a stamp set by Stampendous - which I embossed and fussy-cut and popped up on the card.  The sentiment is from a set by Taylored Expressions. 

I embossed a piece of paper with a set of embossing powders, also by Stampendous.  I used this as the "beach".  I mounted the panel on yellow card stock to give the impression of sunshine.  

We live on Long Island (NY).  So I decorated the card with real shells I collected from Fire Island.  I am hopeful it will remind her of "home".  

On a side note, I recently (June) retired from teaching.  I was really conflicted about retiring, as I loved my job (teaching science to 6th graders).  But if I were going back, then I would have been at school today setting up my classroom.  Instead I cleaned out my kitchen -- every cabinet and drawer was emptied, cleaned, and many items thrown away or set aside for a garage sale.  

I am feeling very happy!!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek. 

Welcome Babies 2019

I made these cards for 2 different families.  The pink (girl colors) is for my friend's new (and first) grand baby.  The second one is for my daughter-in-laws sister.  She and her hubby are waiting to find out if it's a boy or girl . . .

The elephant image is from an old Inkadoo set.  The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp, embossed with color powder.  The pattern papers are from DCWV.   

I colored the elephant with copics, and paper-pieced some pattern paper onto the patches of the elephant. 

I based my design on this sketch from CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge . I used a circle instead of the rectangle.  

I am also putting the first card into Color Throwdown 556 .

I didn't use the kraft. 

Here is the inside of one card:

The sentiment I think is from Gina K and the little elephant and bubble heart is from W Plus Nine.

As always, thanks so very much for taking time to give a look.

Sunflower Corner

I needed several Thank You cards, and I wanted to do so quickly.  So this idea came to me.

I used a stencil by The Crafter's Workshop (You are my Sunshine).

• I colored it with distress inks and blender brushes
• then went over it with Gel Gloss embossing paste to give it a raised surface
• added a black border with a thin sharpie
• embossed the sentiment (I'm not sure what company)

I was able to make several within minutes - not including the time needed for the embossing paste to dry.

I'm putting this into the following challenges:

1.   AAA CAS Game #146 - Made in Minutes . It was definitely made in minutes and has a summery image.

2.  The Flower Challenge - Use your favorite flower.  check 

3.  And Elliebelle's Corner - where This Month's Theme is Sunshine, Sunflowers or Add Something Yellow

4. And the Mod Squad Challenge  Layer Me Not – "The challenge this week is to use no layers on your card front!  This is pretty much self explanatory. Your card front must have no layers, but only the card base. You MUST have NO layers.

Since this is a one-layer card, it qualifies for this too.  

That's all for now.  Thanks for visiting!  I hope you are having a good week.