Celebrate Retirement

Hello, Everyone!

I hope your Monday was amazing!  I got to play in lots of glitter today as I continued to stock Hobby Lobby's Christmas picks.  I actually enjoy that job - not a favorite of most employees. 

Today I have another couple simple retirement cards - with, I believe, only one left to make for a while!  Yeah!  That means I get to start on my Yooper cards....they will be much more fun.  So here are a couple simple cards.

One Sleepy Baby

Morning, All!

I hope your weekend was wonderful!

For today's layout, I created the coordinating page to yesterday's layout - using the Lamb from Miss Kate Cuttables (finishing my grandson's scrapbook).  I just love Miss Kate's files.  I wanted to keep the page very simple...one little lamb watching over the sleeping baby.

I love the colors of greens I used throughout the scrapbook.  One word of caution, though - buy enough coordinating paper the first time around!  LOL!  I ran out about page 15 - luckily had enough scraps to try to bring coordination to the new paper I had to buy - but definitely a little jerk at around page 15...not ideal for a nice flowing scrapbook.

Anyhow, enjoy!

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #235

Sunday is here and, as usual, Operation Write Home's weekly sketch challenge is in full bloom!  It's been my favorite time of the week because I have so many cards to make and sketches take most of the thinking out of it and I'm generally pretty productive.

Those of you who have been visiting me each Sunday must be thinking "Another RETIREMENT card?"  Still working on an order...I'm a bit tired of them myself.  LOL!

So here's OWH's sketch for today - and my cards.

Sweet Dreams

I have another simple scrapbook layout to share with you today! This simple, but gorgeous, layout will be partnered to a page with a very cute lamb from Miss Kate Cuttables.  While the layout is simple - I look forward to some great pictures of our sleeping grandson to brighten up this page.

Simple layout

Morning, all!

This is the second page of my two-page turtle layout.  For this page, I chose to focus on photos - so just the simple turtle embellishment added.  Enjoy!

Turtley about Damien

TGIF!!!! I hope you had a good week and hope you have an awesome weekend.  Today's layout is "Turtely Cool!"  Be sure to stop over at Miss Kate Cuttables for this fun file - Aquarium Fun.  Without further adieu, here is today's layout.

Embellishing with Ribbon

I am now in a hurry to get this book completed....as I ran out of paper. Today's visit to the scrapbook store was not especially successful - seems I wiped them out of the paper I purchased. So while the paper I purchased today will get by for the rest of the double layouts - I had one half of a layout finished that needed a partner. I had a piece of the dotted background paper left - with a couple monkeys cut out of the center. So I covered those holes with a scalloped-circle mat (don't look too closely - one hold had to be patched up LOL!) Since I didn't have much else to coordinate with this page....I used plain paper for mats - and relied on some dollar-store ribbon to embellish - I think a striking look.

Really Scrappin' It

Line up same-sized scraps for a striking look.

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday to all my followers!  I hope you are enjoying your week, whatever it may entail!

I'm celebrating actually getting a card made today - as simple as it may be!  

And as I thinking about retirement - I've got a new countdown - weekly!  So today I'm celebrating 18 more trips to the post office.  LOL!

Scraps & Cards

Hello, Everyone!

This weekend it was my plan to get closer to finishing my grandson's scrapbook....and to finish an order for retirement cards.  I ran out of cardstock for the scrapbook - won't be able to get more until Thursday.  So - silver lining - I'll be able to finish the retirement cards.  I was on a roll....finished (so I thought) and when I went to pack them up - realized I was only HALF finished!   Argggh!  I love to use sketches when I'm in a hurry - so I pulled out all the sketches from Operation Write Home - and started in on my scraps.  These are simple - but surprisingly got many done in a very short time.  If I can continue at this rate for the next couple days, I will be finished!  For sure!  

Operation Write Home - Sketch Challenge #224

Have a fabulous and safe Sunday!  Check out Operation Write Home's weekly sketch challenge.  Take a look at the inspirational cards created using their sketch #224.  

My contributions FINALLY finish up my retirement card order.  I'm grateful for OWH's weekly challenges, as they take out a lot of thinking on my part - and the job goes much quicker.

Whales

Good Morning, My Creative Friends!

Welcome to another page of Damien's scrapbook.  For those of you who are new to my blog, I've been feverishly working on a scrapbook for my new grandson due to join us in September.  I've tried to keep my pages super simple so that I have time to complete the book for Damien's baby shower.

I've been using critters - mostly from Miss Kate Cuttables.  I LOVE these cute little whales - they are ADORABLE!

My Lil' Stinker

Hi, Everyone!

I am pleased to post the opposite page to the Lil' Stinker layout.  This is a layout for any lil' stinker.  While most of my critters have come from Miss Kate Cuttables, for this layout I chose a skunk from Stinkin' Cute.  This guy comes from the Little Stinkers Valentine file.  I chose just the boy stinker.  These files are more complicated than Miss Kate Cuttables....but if you have time and patience - pretty darn cute!  I actually improvised with this file and did not bother to cut some of the more detailed pieces...the details truly are gorgeous (about as gorgeous as I am lazy!)  Enjoy today's layout - and I'll see you back here after I finish the next page!

My Lil' Guy

Hello,  Everyone

Hope this day finds you amazing.  I have prepared yet another scrapbook page for my grandson's first scrapbook.

Delightful Layout

Miss Kate Cuttables fans will tell you - making scrapbook layouts with svg files is as easy as it is fun!

Lion Love

Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE the color green! For me, it's been especially fun making this green scrapbook for my new grandson.  I debated whether to make the animals lifelike colors - but I've seen so many cute baby animals in greens and pinks and blues, I decided to go with green animals....and I am loving them!  Here's today's page.

OWH Sketch Challenge #233

Picture it. A cloud-free sky of blue.  Desert critters are alive with interesting sounds - quails with vivacious colors.  Saguaro cactus line the wash.  You must be in my backyard!  While I enjoy this view often - come December 3, I will enjoy this every morning with my cup of coffee - on my longest coffee break.  My mind fills with wonderment and beautiful thoughts at the mesmerizing image of sleeping in, quail feeding in my yard, cactus green, and soft blue sky!

Until then, I rush to complete my order of retirement cards.  Here is one using Operation Write Home's Sketch Challenge #233.  

Crafty Bunny

This is a layout I made using Miss Kate Cuttables Easter Bunny Boy - easy peasy, I tell you!

Dotted Background

For today's post, I wanted to share how an easy layout can be just as beautiful as one with special embellishments.

Sincere Sympathy

My young niece lost her father last week in a tragic accident.  I wanted to give her something to use as a sort of memory box - I turned to my little sister for ideas (as she has the biggest heart in the world!)  She gave me ideas her church uses when children lose their parents...she also wrote a short poem to help explain to my niece why I'm sending the box.  I personalized it - the items I included are a globe-framed picture of her and her dad in happier times, a small pack of tissue imprinted with "Bless You," a journal for writing (embellished to match the box and frame) and pens, a small watercolor pad (front cover embellished to match the box, frame, and journal), watercolor pencils, and aqua pens, and just filled the rest with mints.  I'm very pleased with the finished box (even though I measured the drawer incorrectly).  I also embellished the poem to coordinate.  

Here is the poem:

There's no doubt your dad loved you.

This picture tells no lies.

So, when you're sad and lonely,

Just look into his eyes.

Life can be so hard at times.

You'll have questions such as "Why?”

So, as you try to understand,

Here's tissue when you cry.

There is no one to blame for this.

There's nothing you can do.

These journals – for your thoughts and drawings –

Will help to get you through.

Going down this unknown road,

You're apt to feel so stressed.

Remember to take care of YOU,

and God will do the rest.

Look at the stars that shine each night.

There's one meant just for you.

Your dad . . . He's smiling down right now.

Always there to see you through.

Written by Lori Miller

Here are the cards I made for my niece and her mother.

The cardstock I used is from a Christmas paper pack I bought to make a Christmas frame for a friend.  Leftovers were not only great for this occasion, but were used to make a wedding card, as well.  Very versatile paper pack!

I also needed another sympathy card for a friend at work who recently lost her mother....so with paper handy, I added that to my list.

If You're Ready, Raise Your Hand!

As my husband is approaching 62, we are itching for re-retirement.  I thought I could hurry it along by counting down the days (149!)  Not sure that was a good idea....while the days and weeks seem to fly by....149 days seems unreachable!  LOL!

Anyways, I am in need of retirement cards - so taking advantage of Operation Write Home's 4th of July Virtual Cardmaking Party - and the Sunday 8 a.m. Sketch Challenge #232, my retirement card making will for sure fly by!

Digital stamps used in the design of these cards:  Whimsy Stamps - Retirement Sentiments.

OWH Virtual Card Challenge #13 - Sketch #232

OWH Virtual Card Challenge #1 - His & Her Cards (using Sketch #231)

As you can see, I'm on a mission to use up the blue/black plaid paper I bought on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  So even though I used a more masculine paper for Her card, adding cute bikes and flowers say feminine to me.