Lots of birthday cards!

Friday, May 8, 2020

Our ladies ministry, affectionately known as the Church Chix, sends birthday cards to adults who are developmentally delayed living in group homes. We needed a lot of guy cards recently so I spent one rainy day in my studio making some really simple and quick cards. I was able to use up some retired DSP!

I think I ended up with close to 40 cards completed! Yea! It was fun!

Blessings,
Tracy

Heartfelt Friend

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

I wanted to send one final card to my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) ladies. I enjoyed making these heart cards using up the 2018-2020 In Color DSP.  I used Lovely Lipstick and Blueberry Bushel as card bases.

I used a retired heart embossing folder on half of them.

 And the Ornate Layers dies for the other half

I added some metallic thread and some little gems to finish them.

Blessings,
Tracy

Monday, May 4, 2020
#keepstamping

This week's #keepstamping color challenge is: Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry, So Saffron and Seaside Spray. I found it to be a challenge. This isn't a color combo I would be drawn to but I took the challenge and this is what I came up with:

I used some old SU! DSP in Smoky Slate and Crushed Curry. I used the Stitched So Sweetly dies to cut out the scalloped rectangles! Love those dies! I used the Jar of Love stamp set to stamp the flowers in So Saffron (stamped off) and Crushed Curry and Seaside Spray.  The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Birthdays. 

I hope you will take the #keepstamping color challenge this week!

The Farmer and I ventured out to walk around this pond in the neighboring town yesterday morning. 

There were a lot of people fishing there but all were practicing social distancing and being respectful! I think we all need a change in scenery! 

Blessings,

Tracy

Friday, May 1, 2020
Color Challenge #keepstamping

This week I took the color challenge my BFF and SU! upline, Teresa, at KNT Designs,  shared with us. Lovely Lipstick, Flirty Flamingo, Gorgeous Grape and Old Olive were the colors. You really can't go wrong with those colors! All favorites of mine! And here is my creation:

I was going through my stamp sets trying to downsize a bit...we all know how hard that is to do! Well, SU!'s Jar of Love caught my eye. I love that set! So, I created this card with all those lovely flowers. Perfect to share on this May 1.   I remember as a youngster on May 1, picking whatever flowers we could find, placing them on the neighbor's porch, ringing the doorbell and running off before they answered! And then watching their surprise at finding a bouquet for them! Did anyone else do that??? So fun! It was May Day, of course!

I hope this finds you all happy, healthy and finding joy in each day!

Blessings,
Tracy

Friday, April 24, 2020

Greetings and salutations as we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope everyone is well...physical and mentally! It can be a challenge some days. We are well. Thankfully, all three of my guys, my husband and two sons, Steven and Taylor, are in essential jobs and continue to work. I quickly made the transition to Zoom for my Bible study and ladies ministry responsibilities at church. Not without a few tears along the way!

Today I am sharing a card I made for the As You See It challenge. A first for me! It is kind of a season of first, wouldn't you agree?! So, here is the photo challenge: 

Wonderful flowers! But it is a speed challenge! 10 minutes start to finish to make a card. Oh, my! I quickly had my idea in my head. 

I set the stamp pads out, put the stamps on the blocks and set the timer! I finished in 9 minutes. Do I like the card? Not really. But, hey, it is a start. I used SU's Daisy Lane stamp set and stamped the flowers in Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Mango Melody and even a couple in Daffodil Delight. I added some retired little floral sequins.  I stamped the sentiment in Gorgeous Grape, used one of the stitched rectangle dies to cut it out and then popped it up with a few dimensionals and set it over a piece of the purple tricolor ribbon.

I hope you'll join the fun and try your hand at speed stamping some beautiful flowers! It made me laugh! And laughing is always a good thing!

Blessings,
Tracy

Stampin' Up's Onstage!

In November I attended my first  Onstage event as a SU! demonstrator! My upline, Teresa, who happens to be my BFF, and I went together. We made a weekend of it, of course! We attended the event in Portland, Oregon just an hour from where we live.

Are those meerkats adorable or what? And the stamp set, The Gang's All Meer,  available now in the Sale-a-bration flyer is just as adorable! It is free with a $50 purchase.

I was mighty happy to receive the stamp set Forever Blossoms during prize patrol! I love it! I went ahead and got the Cherry Blossoms dies that coordinate with the stamp set. If you purchase them together you save 10%! It is part of the Parisian Blossoms suite. I purchased the Parisian Blossoms DSP, the Parisian Flourish 3D embossing folder, the champagne rhinestones and the petal pink 1/4" metallic-edge ribbon.  All of these products are available starting today in the new mini catalog!

We made some fun make-n-takes during the day. I've already given them away and have no photos to share!

Teresa and I did a little crafting back at our room! An old paper pumpkin kit we assembled. They come in so handy for a little crafting fun!

Overall, I loved my first Onstage event.  I was inspired, enlightened, and encouraged. 

Blessings,
Tracy

Hello 2020

Happy New Year, my friends!

It has been another eventful few months here on the farm.

My dad died September 20, 2019.  He was 84 years old. This past summer he really started to decline. He had COPD for many years and there was just no way of making him better. The last month of his life was tough. He was able to stay at home and only the last two weeks did hospice come in occasionally to help. He and my mom were quite a team. They would have celebrated 66 years of marriage in October.  He died 13-1/2 months after my brother. 

The last two weeks of Dad's life I spent the days at my parents and then I would come home and take our dog, Jake, for a walk. We would walk around our grass field. I would get to this point (see photo) and stop and look all around. Some days I could barely see for all the tears in my eyes but always I would look. And always I would give thanks to God for all his goodness. Oh yes, I cried out my frustrations and fears too, but God is so able and so willing to hear it all! He is so faithful.

This is a different view but of the same area I walked just at a different time. Pretty amazing, huh?

It was hard saying good bye to 2019 and hello 2020 knowing that Dad is no longer here.  Life continues on though. I will walk through my grief, literally, and I will craft through my grief and I will share with others the legacy my father has left. I am blessed to have been his daughter.

Thanks for letting me share.  Blessings on your new year!
Tracy