CTS #239 & #tgifc125~ Trains

I made this card for my son.  On Sept. 19th he will be 24 years old.  My gosh I can't believe that.    He has loved trains since he was a young boy.  He use to love to watch Thomas the train.  We lived right next to the tracks when he was small, and I do mean right next maybe about 15 feet away from the house.  Now we live next to a train yard, so he's always had trains in his life.   Now my 24 year old rides BMX while working full time.  I'll include one of my all time favorite pictures of him.  It was just taken this past August.  After a long spring/summer not being able to ride, because of a smashed hand, he got the pins out of his hand and got out of his cast. So this picture was the perfect reminder of God's faithful promise to him to bike again. Just  spectacular! Proud Mama.  

Now onto my card.  I combined two challenges:

TGIF Challenges

 Case This Sketch

I used the train from my Jim Holtz  Here and There stamp set. I thought it tied in perfectly with the challenges today.  I took a few different pictures of the card so you could see some of the details, like the embossed background and twine.  The sentiment is a lovely die from Lawn Fawn.  I layered it with black underneath so it looked like a shadow peaking through.

Next up is my little rascal squirrel, at least today he is not eating my sunflowers. 

Lastly my sweet daughter picked up this treat for me today, and she searched for one with the "sweet" sentiment on it.  How cute is that? "Life is tough, but so are you"  Makes my heart happy that she thinks I'm tough 💗

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.

I invite you to look around since you're here.  Perhaps you will be inspired and encouraged to sign up and follow me.  I know clicking on that blue "follow" button on the left handside can be intimidating but gosh it makes this gal happy.  Guess what else would be awesome..if you would pop on over to my sister's blog. From Soils to Oils this is her first post in a LONG time, she kind of gave up on it, so perhaps we can encourage her to keep on going with a little blog love. 

Thank you

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

             

FMS305~Fall

Gosh, how can one (myself) wrestle so much with such a simple sketch design.  I mean HOLY SMOKES.. I tried and tried, and this is finally what I came up with for the challenge at: Freshly Made Sketches

I love playing along here, they always have unique designs.   This one just had me stumped.  Then after I stamped the orange and yellow decorative strips I cut them out short, put them too low on the card, and at this point I went into my "whatever, roll with it" attitude.  so just stamped a bigger leaf to take up the slack on top, and a smaller leaf for the bottom.  

I also included a few pictures of my yard, since a few of the trees are starting to change colors already. 

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Hope I can get you interested in my blog and you will want to follow me.  You might want to take a look around, Not all my cards are this unappealing. 

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping.

#tgifc124~Thankful Forest Friends

I decided to do a very simple take on the sketch at: TGIF Challenges

I am always trying to improve my game with the less is more concept. (if you check out my other cards, especially  my Neighborhood Card you wouldn't think so.)  Anyways  I used very limited layers with today's card, stuck with one color (mostly) and no embellishments.  I think the postal service will appreciate my effort.  wink wink. Seems like all my cards need at least 2 -3 stamps just to send.  So working on making a few flat cards.  I used my Thankful Forest Friends stamp set from stampin up and my thankful mice from lawn fawn. I think the two worked lovely together. 

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Remember to click that blue button on the left to follow my blog.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Week 266: CAKE

Today we had a beautiful sunrise here in WI.  I just love mornings.  I use to love to get up by 3am and get a going biking, running, walking, but then life happened and now I can't really get going until about 9:30.. but still mornings are so peaceful.  I'll share a few pictures from this morning's sunrise it was about 6:45 on the porch, while getting ready to make  my card.  But across the four lanes of traffic and behind the neighbor's house the big beauty arose with all it's golden glory,  it just made me smile, and wish I could be outside. 

I made this very simple card for the theme at: Casology

 

This is an older retired stampin up set, Crazy for Cupcakes along with Close to My heart, Happy Birthday sentiment.  The amount of tries for this card is ridiculous.  I mean I smudged a corner on one, then the sentiment I placed in the lower left corner, before realizing it would look marvelous right next to the cake stand.  Then I had it in black and finally decided a nice deep gray worked lovely.  So simple is so not "simple" for me, but I do really like how it turned out.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Hope you will want to follow my blog by clicking on that ever intimidating blue button in the left hand column.  It would be grand to have you as part of the blog family.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Tuesday Morning Sketches #420 & Challenge 23 ~Neighborhood

Well I must say this one takes the cake in terms of fussy cutting.   I'm not complaining,  I enjoy it, even though my eyes get blurry, It keeps my mind busy.     I made this card for two challenges that complimented each other well.

Tuesday Morning Sketches

Always Fun Challenges

Our theme for the new challenge is

"Create a Scene"

"Create a Scene" is exactly what I did.  A lovely family returning home from a stroll in the neighborhood.  The little brother and sister run up the house steps as mom and dad tag behind pushing the baby carriage.  Only thing missing here is a fire hydrant on the street corner.  Gosh it was fun making this card.

I also am happy to say I've added a few more badges to my blog.  YAY!! that is so exciting to me.  I hope you'll check them out on the side bar or click on top for the commended cards. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. 

I'd love to have you follow my blog.  Please won't you consider clicking that blue button on the side.. I know it's very intimidating, but it's so rewarding and rather exciting to watch my little blog family grow. 

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

Sympathy/SCS

 Today I had the task of making a sympathy card (again).  I'm not very good with these cards.  So I just kept it very simple.  It breaks my heart to have to make them.  I know that it is part of life, it just makes me realize how fragile life truly is, and that each moment is a blessing. 

I also used this great sentiment.  I think it works lovely for my SCS (Scripture Card Sunday) post, being that Faith is all about trust.  Believing God will work all things out for good.  No matter what the circumstances. We have that promise from God.  It might not be what we wanted or expected, but it's all working out for His glory and our good.   I have struggled with that in my life, especially since my surgery and spinal shots. I guess that's where the rubber meets the road in our faith journey.. Just keep believing and praying. 

Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit today.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping

TTTC014 & FMS304 Festival of Trees and Lots of Joy

 Gosh this dizziness I've been experiencing with aching teeth..IS NOT going away! grrr.  There complaint out of the way and onto some fun stuff.

The card I made today is for the challenges At: 

Freshly Made Sketches

and Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I chose the left column down.  My acetate paper had gold dots.. Yay.  Now I just had to find a way to incorporate it into a card.  So I chose just a strip of it to reflect the sketch drawing at Freshly made sketches.  I used a Christmas theme and gave some dimension to the card by popping up the lower tree and accenting the card with a bow.  The sentiment is stamped on the inside of the card, but peaks through the acetate sheet lovely.  I am pleased with the overall finished product.  Not something I usually would do for Christmas.. with the polka dots, but it came together nicely.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Keep Smiling and Keep Stamping