Life...

Hello!

I know it's been awhile since I've checked in here.  I'm so sorry about that.  Not that I posted a ton when I was posting "regularly", but anyway.  ;)

Just wanted to give you a little update about why it's been quiet.  I've been busy, people!

I made.... the centerpieces and favors for my sister's wedding in Las Vegas:

{Those cute little boxes were made with the We R memory Keeper's Gift Box Punch Board and the Sheer Metallic card stock.  The gold twine is also from We R Memory Keepers.  They are more simple than I had planned, but when one of my dogs decided the completed boxes looked good enough to eat, and the paper roses I wanted to make and put on top kept tearing, I decided to S.I.M.P.L.I.F.Y.}

I've been.... watching my boys play a lot of baseball games: (don't let that beautiful blue sky and green grass fool you...it was DANG cold! and that third photo shows what happened the next day!)

But mostly.... I've been helping my parents.  Last October my mom had breast cancer surgery.  A month later she found out she had lung cancer, and yesterday we found out her lung cancer has spread to her liver.  She'll be going through chemo.  I'm the only one here to take care of her.  My sister lives out of state.  My dad is 92 and has Macular Degeneration and needs help as well.  Don't feel sorry for me.  I'm just stating facts.  But it is hard watching your parents get old.

So.... I've taken a leave of absence from my We R Memory Keepers Design Team position for at least a few months,

And.... I've stopped doing Stamp Club and will probably no longer be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator after June.

But.... I'm still enjoying life.  I'm focusing on my family.  Enjoying being with them.  Having time to help them however I can.  Big changes are coming to my family within the next several months.  I want to be present and focused on that.  Not have any regrets or unnecessary responsibilities that I place on myself.

Spending 5 hours in the hospital with your mom gives you time to do this...

I will be.... participating in a fun blog hop coming up later this month, so watch for that.  And I will still pop in here once in a while with a card or scrapbook page or some other crafty creation.  Just in case you think I'm going away forever and you "unfollow" me.  I hope you'll stick around. :)

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

Pinterest Party....A Wedding Gift

Hello!

I have a good friend getting married this week.  She and her husband-to-be are a little more established in life so they don't need a lot in the way of home goods and for her shower I didn't want to get her a gift card.  So I decided to make her something she can display in her new home.  My initial intent was to do something like this from one of my Pinterest Boards:

But then I decided I wanted a more home-themed quote and a bit more color so I ended up with this:

They're a really cute couple and I'm so happy for them.  I made the banners for their reception.  I'll take photos when we go and show you how they turned out.

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

For the Newlyweds....a unique wedding card

Hello!

A few days ago we received a wedding invite.  It was unique in that it was really graphic and trendy. Lots of font design going on. Navy chevron pattern at the top and the text alternated between the same Navy and a mustard-y, saffron-y yellow.  I loved it.  So summery, fresh, and simple.

If I remember right, my friend (the mother of the groom and also the flower designer) told me that Navy and yellow were going to be the colors at the reception as well, which would make sense to send out a coordinated invite, right? So I took the cues from the invite to create a wedding card for them.

I had been itching to play with my new SU! chevron embossing folder and the Blue Ribbon stamp set.
Let me just say a little about the embossing folder.  You get such a deep, crisp impression and I love that.  And the Blue Ribbon stamp set?  I think it's my favorite from the new catalog.  I'm sure you'll see more creations with that little stamp set very soon.

I used Midnight Muse (quickly becoming my new favorite blue) and Starfruit inks.  I love how they contrast with each other, making for a fun fresh feeling.  Makes me feel a little like boarding a boat and enjoying some cool sea air.  We could use some of that right now with our 100 degree temps and many fires blazing through our state!

I used one of my favorite inking/embossing techniques:  Gently press your ink pad into one side of the embossing folder, just inking the design.  Carefully fold it over your card front and run it through your Big Shot.  Inking and embossing in one!  It looks a bit distressed because I accidentally bumped the card before it went through, but it's okay.  It makes it match more now with the distressed image of the ribbon medallion.

Of course, a Cherry Cobbler embossed heart is an appropriate addition to any wedding card.

Oh yeah,  I also used the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and coordinating Framelits.  Love those too!

Lots of texture and and layers.  I really, really like how this turned out.  I hope the newlyweds do too!

Watch for more of my Blue Ribbon and chevron creations in the near future!

Thanks for joining me at the Table today!

Wedding Card (Note: This is the second post for today. Scroll down to see a cute baby gift!)

June weddings.  Love them!  Whenever I make a wedding card, I like to make it as personal as possible for the couple whether it's incorporating their engagement photo, wedding colors, etc.

The inspiration for this card came from the bride-to-be.  She'll be wearing a Spring Green sash around the waist of her gorgeous wedding dress.

This card looks SO much prettier in real life.  So fresh and Springy.  Just like the bridal photos.  The green in the ampersand and card stock is a new In Color from the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog.  I LOVE this new green!  And there are rhinestones all over the card but it's hard to photograph rhinestones.  At least it is for me. ;)

Thanks for joining me at the table today!