Oldies but Goodies

Hi Friends,

I didn't have any stamping time this week.   But I did have this card from last Thanksgiving.   I needed some quick and easy Thanksgiving Day cards before leaving for back east and this is what I came up with.   I have always loved the stamp set from Inkadinkado, "Fall Colors" and coupled with some autumnal scrap paper (from Michaels I think) the mood was set for a very happy holiday.   I have entered this card into the Free for All challenge on SCS this afternoon.   The challenge was to create a card using scraps.  Score!

Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing is a card I created several months ago.   Some of you may have already seen it on my SCS gallery.   I think it's time my little cross-eyed lion made it to my blog.   He is created completely from punches except for the grass, flowers, and sun which were made using die cuts.   Isn't he adorable?   I ain't skeered, he makes my heart sing!

Until next time,
Blessings everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Beach Vacation in Black & White

Beach Vacation in Black & White CAS175 Challenge - SCS

Hi Friends,

It's late this evening so I'm going to make this a quick post.   I've created a little beach number tonight.   The challenge:  use the inspiration photo of a super model in a black and white bathing suit and create a clean and simple designed card.   Well, that cute little bathing suit figure left the beach for me a long time ago *laughing*   But one can dream ... and one can make their own bathing suit - yes, ma'am.  And I did!  I made a template using Adobe Illustrator.


Four scalloped half circles are punched and layered to create the "ruffled" look of the photo bathing suit.   Then I placed my "figure" template over a piece of black card stock and trimmed it out.   Next, I placed my layered ruffles on top and trimmed again.   The only thing left; leg openings.   I used a very small circle punch and trimmed just a little bit more and angled opening to give the appearance of a different leg position. 

Close Up of Ruffles (click to enlarge)

You can decide whether you'd like the mini dolly circle to be a sun or a sun hat - it works either way I think.   I placed a white button on top for a little more interest.    The little beach scene is an EK Success punch.   A small string of pearl and black rhinestone bling line the bottom and completes this card.  I think my beach vacation is ready for an umbrella drink!


I absolutely adored this challenge and love the results of my homemade bathing suit.   Just wish I had a figure like the super model in the inspiration photo.   Better get to the gym tomorrow {wink}.


Thanks for stopping by today.   Hope to see you again soon.
Blessings,

Sunset War Birds

♥  Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there!   I decided to do a small post this evening in honor of the guys in our lives.   Hey, it can't always be bout lady stuff {wink}.

Yesterday my husband went on a night photo shoot with the Arizona Aviation Photography Club.   Here are three of his photo's for the man in your life.

North American P-51 D Mustang "Stang"

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15

"Stang" Outside the Hanger

Proverbs 23:24

The father of a righteous man has great joy;

he who has a wise son delights in him.

Until next time,

Blessings

Southwest Fiesta!

 ❦  I'm in the mood for color!   The sketch challenge (SC389) at Splitcoaststampers provided an opportunity to show you some southwestern color and scenes I love.   I've used some of our (mine and my husband's) photographs for inspiration today.    Come visit Arizona, it's fiesta time!

SC389 Card Entry

 ❦  I've used designer paper from We R Memory Keepers (Fiesta) to set the stage for my theme today.  Isn't it pretty?   It reminds me of a Mexican serape' and I thought it would be prefect as a background for the flourish leafy vine that represents our beautiful bougainvillea and native american pottery.   For any cowboy's or cowgirl's out there, how bout that sliver belt buckle in the top left corner.   Now all that's left is a tall glass of southern sweet tea, chips and salsa - whoo-hoo!

Close up of the turquoise chips

Inside Card Sentiment

❦  The photographs I've included today are from some of our travels around the state of Arizona and California (San Diego).   North, south, east, west or even our own back patio, the beauty of the southwest never fails to inspire me.

Balboa Park, San Diego - Photograph by Susie Lessard 

Sedona Pottery - Photograph by Vance V. Lessard

San Xavior Del Bach (The White Dove of the Desert) Tucson, Arizona - Photograph by Vance V Lessard

Saguaro Cactus Skeleton (Phoenix Botanical Gardens) - Photograph by Susie Lessard

Coffee Pot Rock and St. Luke's Episcopal Church Sedona, Arizona - Photograph by Vance V Lessard

Cactus Blooms on our patio - Photograph by Susie Lessard

Hasta la proxima amigos! 

In This Very Room

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Psalm 147:3

Have you ever been in a room surrounded by people and felt completely alone?    I think we all have at one time or another.   It becomes a mixed bag of emotions doesn't it?  And before we know it we've lost our joy.   This past Sunday our church choir sang this beautiful hymn.   A powerful reminder of one who is always present and offers all the love, hope, and joy we'll ever need.    May the words of this song flow from our ears to our hearts and dwell there forever.

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra of First Baptist Church of St. Charles, Mo.

This post is dedicated to my niece, Laura. 

  

In His love,

You Color My World

CAS-UAL Friday Challenge # 56

Hi Friends,

When I was little girl I was fascinated with color.   And like most children I was sure color must have a taste - it does, right?  *laughing*

It's a hot one in the Valley of the Sun this fine Saturday.   So, staying cool and creating one last card this weekend seemed just the ticket.   The offering today is a clean and simple design.   This type of design challenges you to balance your white space with the design.   Simple and creative without the use of embellishments or a lot of tools.    I thought this little primary color palette would be a creative design using the CAS-UAL Friday challenge -- polka-dots.    I used a small dot/circle punch and a Swiss Dot embossing folder at the bottom of the card.   Several score lines above the dotted swiss give a nice balance and some interest to the card.   In the July issue of CardMaker the headlines read:  One Layer Cards in a Flash.   Flat is Back!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Celebrating the Red, White, and Blue

   ❦ I'm a little early this year with my 4th of July card but I didn't want to miss showing you how cute these window box die cuts from Memory Box are.   I just love them!

I have so many wonderful memories of the 4th of July.   Parades, cookouts at the lake, time spent in Cape May, and even a rodeo or two.  One of my favorite memories was celebrating a very special birthday on the 4th; my paternal grandmother's.   This year we'll have another special July birthday.   We'll all be celebrating in a big way this year!

How blessed I feel to be born and raised in this great country.   And like many others, I'll be bowing my head in gratitude for the grace that God has given to this wonderful land.

One Nation, Under God, Indivisible,

With Liberty and Justice for All.

Thank you for stopping by today.

His Love Endures Forever

❦  A good friend of ours extended a though-provoking question today.   "What specific cultural victory, if we could win it, would provide the most leverage to produce a society that is closer to the cultural blueprint God has designed for us?"   The challenge: "Can you identify and summarize that issue in 25 words or less?

❦  My answer is Love.   All of Scripture hangs on two great purposes: that God be loved with all our heart, and that we love each other as we love ourselves - John Piper, sermon 1995.   Change begins with the individual.   The victory goes to God.   His love endures forever.

 

Until next time friends

Blessings and love be yours.

Get Well

    Unfortunately we all need cards like these because we all fall ill at sometime or another.    When I was returning home from back east I read something that really stuck in my heart.    "When suffering is shared, its weight is divided. And when a joy is shared, the delight is multiplied.    I think so many times we feel we are placing a burden on others if we share our pain.   God's word says there's nothing further from the truth.  In fact, He tells us to "Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" - Galatians 6:2

Inside card sentiment

   Our neighbor is recovering from surgery and I hope this card and message will carry her through the darkest hours.   When I fell ill several years ago it was the words of my dear friend who helped me face the unknown.   I will lift you up when you cannot stand.   I will pray when you cannot.   I will carry your burden with you and when you are well we will rejoice together.    Those are words of love my friends.    I'm praying for a speedy recovery for our neighbor.

Until next time,
Blessings,

Sails, Pails, and Puppy Dog Tails

Click to Enlarge

Sails, Pails, and Puppy Dog Tails

That's what little boys are made of.

With dirty faces, banged up chins
With courageous hearts and boyish grins.
When God had completed the task He'd begun,
He surely said, "That's a job well done."

Our hearts eagerly await your arrival.

Thank you for your visit.  See you next time,