The Big Guy is still struggling with health issues so we have been working to make things easier for him - lots of PT and a monster stand up recliner that Will thinks is an amusement park ride! Then before I knew it came the holiday rush. I never finished all my cards as I usually do and finally gave myself a pass - sometimes you just have to!

I have officially resigned as a regular weekly team member for Freshly Made Sketches - a very tough decision for sure but I needed to free up my schedule as much as possible. The gals on that team are wonderful and I still get to hang out on the FB page with everyone! I also am no longer an SU Demo but fortunately my friend Brian King keeps me updated and supplies me with products I "need"!

But I don't want you to think my craft room was totally ignored these past few weeks. I introduced Will to stenciling and he made a card for the Big Guy. I was amazed at how well it turned out!

Then there were 50 holiday tags to make for baskets sent to a local hospital.......

and Christmas tree tags for treat boxes Emma gave to her teachers!

And a special thank you to so many friends who sent me wonderful hand made cards! They are all so beautiful ...... and heartwarming!  Wishing you all a wonderful 2026!

     

Oh it is Halloween week which is always so much fun around here so I had to make a Halloween card! I love the trick or treating pups dressed as ghosts! It looks like they are regretting taking a short cut through the cemetery!  

Meanwhile Emma attended a pumpkin carving party.....

Stamp Sets: The Bark Side (CCC), Sweet Spells (Scrapbook and Cards Today)

     

My cousin has two rescued Papillons that are two very lucky dogs!  They are adorable but have recently needed a great deal of medical care.....including a few surgeries. But I am happy to report that after a lot of TLC they are doing well.  So now that everyone is feeling better I thought she could relate to this card - definitely sums up the past few months!

Nicky and Bijou are looking just fine these days!

     

Sneaking in a Christmas card before I go back to Halloween cards.  I love this image for a holiday wreath as it brings back memories of getting oranges and walnuts in my Christmas stocking long ago!

Meanwhile Emma and her parents were in Maine last week making some memories at the ocean.  They love to go in the fall when the beach is usually empty. One night they headed down to the beach and another couple was there. The guy came up to my daughter and asked if she would take their picture. Then he leaned in and whispered "Please take a video - I am going to propose!" My daughter said she was more nervous than he was because she didn't want to mess it up!  

And here's the happy couple checking out the video after the bride to be said YES!

Have fun with Amy's great sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Set: Joyful Tidings (SU!)

Ink: Memento Black, Copics

Paper: Garden Green, Gold, Elegant Pines DSP

Pinewood Planks EF

     

Narelle has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches! Hope you join us!

Dies: Happy Skies (Concord & 9th)

Paper: Secret Sea, Flower Garden Foils (SU!), Rest by Concord & 9th

Sentiment: Kite Delight (SU!)

     

And we are off into the 700's here at Freshly Made Sketches! I am limping along here with a very tired and uncooperative computer that will be headed to the shop this week.....hoping things are back on track next week for Sketch 702. This is my second computer since I started at FMS  700 sketches ago so it may be time for an update! 

 My trees this week are from Gina K's new set called O Christmas Tree and I found a piece of metallic card stock in my stash that was perfect with the funky trees! 

Hope you have fun with Jen Brum's trio this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Darling Duckling, Boho Blue,Pecan Pie (SU!)

     

Wow 700 Challenges are definitely worth celebrating! Seems like a huge number and it is stunning to me that I have made so many cards over the years!  I used the Cheers and Sips set with coordinating DSP to create my celebratory card for this week's challenge.

Way back in September of 2011 Leslie launched Freshly Made Sketches and I was delighted to be part of the original FMS Team! This is the very first card I made for Challenge #1! I think I need to break out the buttons and twine again!

We have some former DT members returning this week to celebrate this milestone.  Hope you join the party as well at Freshly Made Sketches!

     

I know I’m preaching to the choir when I say that we have had a crazy hot summer - I’m over it! Many of you are experiencing the same this year. A few hours at the lake always cheers me up though. Looks like this kitty thought the same thing and headed to a nearby pond. 

Meanwhile that grandson of mine is having a great time at a summer camp for a week in the Adirondacks.  This is how he spent an afternoon this week.....yikes! But he loved it!

Yep I think I prefer just sitting by the pond with Kitty.........

                     

     

I admit I am a total fan of Coca Cola! When Concord and 9th gifted the summer camp participants with a small exclusive die set I was delighted to receive a soda can set! And naturally my first project had to be a Coke.  Tea for breakfast......Coke at lunch.....Milk for dinner.....I am so boringly predictable! But it has been that way since they installed a Coke dispenser in my college dining hall over 55 years ago - yikes! And if a waiter tries to sneak in a Pepsi instead of a Coke - look out! I won't be happy!

The can and the Hugs sentiment are both sparkly but that is hard to see in the photo. This will be sent to a friend who is a bit under the weather and also appreciates the "medicinal" qualities of a Coke!

Die Set by Concord & 9th

Paper (SU!) Red Glitter, Red Metallic, Spooky Sweet DSP

     

Cheers to summer celebrations! Whether you are celebrating a graduation, a birthday or just summer vacation the new Cheers and Sips Bundle from Stampin' Up! has all the ingredients for a good time! June was very busy around here so I am looking forward to a calmer July that includes lots of reading on the porch and lemonade!

Judy has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches! Hope you join us!

     

Amy has a fun sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I am sliding in a day late but I couldn't resist playing with it. Paint and Palette Dies from Honey Bee worked perfectly with the sketch! A spattered backdrop and sentiment from Colorado Craft completed the look. 

Our summer is off to a very busy start but I am hoping that July brings a few quiet days of just hanging out on the porch or up at the lake!

Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

     

A heat wave rolled in on Sunday.....which got only worse on Monday and totally unbearable on Tuesday with another day on tap for Wednesday. We don't have central air in our house because honestly where I live we don't need it......until now! Wow it's hot!

Monday night I decided to brave the heat upstairs in my craft room to tackle my FMS card.  It was so hot upstairs even with a fan that I decided I needed a thirty minute or less card.  So I scrambled through the huge mess on my desk left from the Concord and 9th Summer Camp I "attended" over the weekend. I found bits and pieces left over from classes so I embossed a background and boom I was done! I snapped a few photos, uploaded them to my computer then wrote the card to a friend to go out in the morning mail.

Tuesday afternoon I was typing my post at Emma's while her mom was at work and I noticed something not quite right in the photo.  The cone flower was upside down! I may have said a choice word which got Emma's attention.....and she gave me some very sage advice...."Amma....Let it be....just let it be".....

Hope your craft room is cooler than mine these days and you can join us at Freshly Made Sketches! Narelle has a great design for us! And if a flower is upside down.....let it be....

Stamp Sets: Garden of Gratitude, Pressed Poppies (Concord and 9th)

     

For a six year old kiddo Will certainly has had his share of graduations! We went to a sweet nursery school graduation when he was 4.....then then a rollicking pre-K graduation complete with dance routines and rock and roll! Next week will be a moving up ceremony from Kindergarten.  He has done well in Kindergarten but if you ask him about the best part of his day he always says "riding the bus!"  He only lives four blocks from school but since it is on a very busy street he is eligible for a bus ride.  As someone who took a bus to school as well I totally get it......it was very entertaining!

Michele has a sweet sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches! She would love to see what creative projects you come up with - and so would I!

     

Popcorn and a movie......one of the best partnerships in life!  Emma and Will were here for pizza last night and we had a discussion on movies.  I asked them for recommendations for my summer viewing.  Let's just say that the movie choices of a six year old boy, a twelve year old girl and a 75 year old grandma are light years apart!  But it made for a lively discussion and we all agreed that popcorn is a must!  That conversation definitely led me to use Stampin' Up's new popcorn set Poppin' By!

Karren has a great sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches - hope you join us!

     

And another one of my cousins has had surgery this week so this little guy is off to Baltimore to wish him a speedy recovery.  Texts have been flying back and forth keeping everyone informed.  It truly is amazing how texting keeps us all in the loop instantly even though we are hundreds of miles apart! 

Hopefully I won't need another Get Well card for a while!  And hopefully you have time to play with Freshly Made Sketches this week! Jen Brum has a great sketch for us!

     

My cousin is recovering from surgery which has resulted in a few weeks of restricted activity.  Her husband has been stellar but she can't be left alone yet so an army has formed to help out with everything from meals to dog walking and general entertainment.  I am making a few of these for her to send to friends who have been terrific during a tough time!  

I just love these chicks!

Verena has  great sketch for us this week at FreshlyMade Sketches! Have fun with it - I did!

Stamp sets: Happy Hens (Gina K), Just Chicken In (TE), All Wired Up (SU!)

Ink: Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade, Pecan Pie

     

I love the look of the flowers printed on the vellum strip of paper so I had to use a piece of it in my floral design today.  This card came together quickly thanks to Jen's great sketch and all of that sweet paper!  We finally have some green shoots peeking out along the edge of our yard and a robin's nest in one of our bushes but no flowers yet....soon I hope! We have been busy doing spring cleanup and preparing for house painters who will arrive tomorrow.  I love my gray/blue house and want the exact same color. The painter assures me it will be a perfect match - cross your fingers!

Hope you join us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Stamp Sets: Notes of Nature (SU), Sweet Sentiments (GinaK)

Paper: Floral and Gingham Vellum, Floral Delight DSP,Lemon Lolly, Pecan Pie, Old Olive

Ink: Memento Black, Lemon Lolly