Computer tech Thank you

The tech guy where I work is always helping me out with my computer issues -- He makes it look so easy.  Of course he is in his 20's, while I am in my  --- well, let's just say, not my 20's.    And I am pretty tech-savvy.  But every now and then, there is something I cannot figure out.  And he comes to my rescue.  

Inkspirational Challenge - Grunge - since this was for the IT (tech) guy at my job, I tried to make it more masculine -- It was kinda fun using techniques I hadn't used in a while - tearing, distressing with inks.   

I used the sketch from Fab Friday -

The stamp is from Inky Antics - colored with color pencils.  The paper is from ? ? 

As always, thanks for looking.  Have an inky day.

Hairdresser Congrats

This is for my niece (#1 of 6), who just opened her own hair salon.  She has been the manager of a successful salon here in NY.  And finally decided to open her own shop.  If  you've ever opened a business you can image all the paper work and hoops she had to jump through.  But finally after 4 months of hard work (and frustrations) her dream became a reality.  Her salon is primarily grey, black, and eggplant.  With a hint of aqua.  I focused my card on the purple, with hints of the other colors - taking some inspiration from:

Colour Q -

Virginia's View - 100% stamped .  Well, I guess so, if you go with the samples.  My images are all stamped - I stamped the black "Wistful" (by Penny Black) image, then colored the swirls and flowers.  I masked her, and then sponged around the main image with distress inks. No pattern paper was used.  The "congratulations" is from another set.

Here is the view of the inside - the sentiment is from RubberNecker -- I love this sentiment!

Thanks so much for looking.  I hope you have a gorgeous day.
Now, go get your hair done :)

Friends are Like Shoes

Color Throwdown - I LOVE these colors. I used a turquoise green instead of the celery green.

Fantasy Stampers - theme is spots and stripes -- I think these shoes qualify :)

This should fit with the Retro Rubber Stamp Challenge - to use stamps at least a year old, and this sketch - which I tweaked a bit.  

The shoe stamps are from Hero Arts (copyright on the package 2014).  I hand lettered the sentiment.  On the inside I wrote, "you don't need a few hundred, just a few good ones."

The pattern paper is from Stampin Up.  

As always, thanks for looking!  Enjoy your day.

School's Out for Summer!

This is for my co-teacher.  She and her family love Sweet Frog -- a local frozen yogurt shop.  

The ice-cream was made with dies from Reverse Confetti -- then embossed with a folder to add the swirl, sponged over with distress inks.  The sentiment is from an old $1 set from Michaels.  I added crystal effects over the cherry to add some shine..

This is for the following challenges:

The Paper Players challenge is Summer Treats:

Freshly Made Sketches : 

I love this sketch -- It is so easy to work with! That's why I made 2 cards with this design.

thanks so much for looking!

Weeoooo - Weeoooo

This is for my future daughter-in-law.  She just passed her NY State Paramedics tests!  Woo Hoo!!  We are so proud of her.  

Freshly Made Sketches 

The stamp set is from Stampin Up - "You're my Hero"

The congrats is from PaperTrey Ink

This is a short and sweet post tonight.  Bedtime is fast approaching.  Thanks for looking!  

Happy Anniversary

This is for my son and daughter-in-law's 2nd anniversary -- which they are celebrating this Memorial Day weekend.  I've been pondering what kind of card to make for them.  Then I came across these two challenges, and the idea clicked!  They love these colors, and why not change the circles into hearts!

I used the sketch from Happy Little Stampers and the colors from Colour Q :

I'm also linking up to CAS-ology where the theme is Wedding.  While this is  not really a "wedding" card, it does celebrate a wedding.  And it could certainly be changed into a wedding card.  

The stamps are from assorted sets -- mostly Stampin Up and Paper Smooches.  I used dye inks for the hearts; some have Wink of Stella and/or crystal effects over them.  Some of the hearts I inked in one base color and lightly "kissed"  it to another color (yellow and orange).  I embossed lines above and below the xoxo line.  

Thanks so much for looking.  I hope you are having a glorious weekend.

Happy SUPER Birthday

If you've followed my blog a bit, you know I have a grand-nephew, Caleb.  He will be celebrating his first birthday this week!! Caleb was born at only 24 weeks gestation, and only 1 pound 9 ounces.  He spent the first 5 months of his life in the NICU.

Today we are doing the March of Dimes fund-raising walk, on Team Super Caleb.  Caleb's mom and dad refer to him as their "super hero" because of how well he is doing.  So this card is for Caleb's Super Birthday.

Here is the card info -- more on Caleb at the end of the blog.

I totally lifted my idea from Torico's Stamparadise - with her circle-shape shaker card.
The major difference between my card and Torico's is she made her card base a circle.  I made the buildings go across the whole front, then cut out a part of it as the circle.  It gives a really cool effect!

Clear it Out Challenge This week's theme is KIDS, and the challenge is to use Primary Things (paper, embellishments) I knew I had to make a shaker card to use up some of those so-many sequins I have.

I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches as the basis of my card:

I'll also put this into Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  Both are "Anything Goes"  

Card info:  The boy and building are from My Favorite Things.  I colored the boy with watercolors.  The building were embossed with black powder, and I sponged distress ink over them, then used a stencil for the rays.  The sentiment is from another Super Hero set from Sugar Peas - the 1st is from another set.

Here are photos of Caleb when he was born.  That is me with Caleb on the left,  and Caleb in his Daddy's hand on the right.  He was so tiny, but a real fighter.  He breathed on his own for a few days before he needed to be intubated.  Which was a blessing because Mommy and Daddy got to hold him. 

  

And here are photos from today's March of Dimes Walk:

Mom, Dad, Caleb

Super Caleb!

Team Super Caleb - with his cousin walking out of the picture

Caleb's "corrected age" is about 8 months.  And thankfully he is doing the things 8-month old babies do.  He is trying to crawl.  He just got his second tooth.  He reaches for and holds his toys.  He is eating baby food.  All good things.  He is indeed a Super Miracle!

Thanks so much for looking.  Hope everyone in your family is doing well.