"Mojo Challenge"

Good Tuesday morning to you.
Welcome back from your long weekend.  Many of you took the opportunity to celebrate the brave soldiers who fought for our freedom and lost their lives doing it on Memorial Day.  Some of you thought it was a great time to have picnics and cook-outs.  Some took the opportunity to go and clean up the graves of not only soldiers but other family members who have died.
Today, I have for you a card I made following the sketch given from Mojomonday.blogspot.com.  It has been a while since I entered the challenge for this site.  So, I'm giving it a try today.

 

Challenges: Mojo450 and Wordartwednesday Challenge Weeks #232-233 - Anything Goes.
For my card I used:
cardstock: Neenah white; Kanban grey; and design paper from Nicole floral pattern
embellishment: Recollection floral; raspberry hemp cord; Martha Stewart faux pearl

Hope you enjoyed your view for today.  Come again...you are always welcome.

Sending you a hug and LOVE, 

Lois

"Triple Thanks"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
It's the beginning of a glorious weekend.  Four days to enjoy yourself and to do some things you have been putting off.  It's beach time...grilling time...Memorial Day festivities...what's on your calendar?
Just for fun, I made three quick cards and decided to use something in the line of "thanks" on all of them.   Some gifts were received and you always want to "thank" the person who gave you something...We have our service men and women who died trying to keep this country from hurt, harm and danger.  Let's give them "thanks"... People, at least some of them, are always supportive of what you do and they make nice comments about it...I'm giving them "thanks" because without them you never know how you are doing.  So "thanks", "thanks", and "thanks"!!!

thank you

My traditional Neenah white, Recollection black cardstock

stamps: Recollection color splash, Inkadinkado beauty stems and Heidi Swapp thank you

inks: Tim Holtz's distress inks (mustard seed, picked raspberry and broken china

Handmade Modern sequins

Ranger gold embossing powder

pink water color paint

*check out www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com....you may see this one over there

thanks a bunch

Neenah white, black Recollection...cardstock

Recollection Bright and Basic paper pad

Recollection color splash,  dylusions shattered bits and Stampendous daisy thanks ...stamps

Hand Made Modern...sequins

inks: Tim Holts distress (tea dye, milled lavender and picked raspberry)

Ranger gold embossing powder

how thoughtful you are

cardstock and specialty paper: Neenah white, Recollection black and Ranger water color

water color paints (orange, yellow, pink, green, blue)

stamp: Fiskars petals from scratch...stamped on card in black and stamped again on pink cardstock, cut out and adhered on stamped image.  Hero Arts CL351 clear stamp was also used for the sentiment.

Martha Stewart faux pearls

Who are you "thanking"?  It has to be someone.  We all receive gifts in various ways.

Have a great enjoyable weekend....Remember four days of fun....see you back here soon!!!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"It's A Day To SMILE"

Good Thursday to all my friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
What a gorgeous day it is outside.  I've been out and about for about two hours this morning and it was rejuvenating to be out of the house, into the fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sunshine at nine through eleven this morning.  I'm posting this at the moment but will go back outside as soon as I'm finish.  Oh sunshine, blue skies and less pollen in the air....how I adore you.  It is a day to smile and to make someone else smile.  While I was out and feeling so happy, I did just that.  Everyone I saw...I gave them a hello and bright smile this morning.  Some people are  participating in Red Nose Day...People across the country are wearing Red Noses and organizing FUN-raisers all to help kids who need it most...Today, come together, have fun and make a difference for kids.

Enabler's List:

Neenah Bright White cardstock; Recollection black and red cardstock

DP: DCWV Stack 7

Recollection Floral Embellishments and Adhesive Faux Pearls

die: Spellbinders Romantic Vine

Enabler's List:

cardstock: Neenah Bright white: Recollection black and red

DP: TPC Studio Valedictorian Seeing Stars

Embellishments: Jolee's Boutique graduation cap and K & Company graduation sentiment stickers

Art Minds sequins 

Judikins stamping emboss able window plastic

die: Studio 112 clear graduation mini stamp

ink: Hampton Art black pigment ink

Enabler's List:

Neenah Bright white cardstock: Recollection black cardstock

DP: TPC Studio Valedictorian Seeing Stars and American Craft foil cardstock

Art Minds sequins

Studio 112 stamp and Hampton Art black pigment ink 

Jolee's Boutique graduation cap and hand cut stars.

die: Spellbinder's Floral Ovals

I hope you enjoyed your view.  Go out and SMILE with someone today.  Make sure you are making a child happy or an adult.    Remember...A SMILE is the Light in the Window of your Soul.

Sending you a hug and SMILE,

Lois

"Be Yourself"

Good Tuesday to my friends, visitors, viewers and followers.
Sunshine, blue skies I'm glad you are coming my way.  I can get outside and enjoy the fresh air.  Rain, rain, please stay away for the rest of this week as the weather man predicted. We don't like staying  in the house looking outside at the gloomy skies from a window. Sunshine produce an energy level to keep you moving and feeling  energetic.  Rain makes you gloomy and drowsy...all you want to do is sleep (lol).
Today, I made a card with the title "Be Yourself".  How many times have people tried to steer you in their directions to act and think like they act and think?  Has it every happened to you?  Someone will say to you, "if it was me, I'll do this or that"...making you feel as if what you suggested is not welcome.  Maybe you wear a particular type of clothing and get ostracized from someone who thinks you should dress the way they want you to dress....the same could be said about your hair style or places you go for relaxation.  The next time they start off by saying..."if it was me" ...stop them in their track and say..."I'm glad you are not me and I'm going to be myself".

Enabler's List

cardstock: Neenah white

DP: DCWV Stack 7

specialty: Ranger watercolor paper

water color paints: pink, yellow, blue, purple

floral embellishments: Sandy lion Essentials

die: Spellbinders Romantic Vines

sequins

sentiment: the Paper Studio Inspirational Phrases Gold Foil

 

These two cards were made for challenges at the Outlawz.
Tweet! Twee! is for Monday's Greetings and Somebody's Wine...ing is for Sunday CAS.

Thanks so much for your visit and comments.  Come again!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,
Lois

"A FATHER"S Day Card"

Hello Monday and to all my friends, followers and viewers.
I had a great weekend ...forgetting that it was a rainy day on Saturday and Sunday.  The world doesn't stop just because of raindrops.
This morning has been very busy for me as well as our local Fire Department.  One of our neighbors house caught on fire this morning...everybody is safe but it is a lot of damage done to this home.  As for me....I'm just behind in getting started... knowing that I have several things I need to get done today.
Here is one of them...my card share:  The question for today is, "what makes a #1 Dad?"  Not every man is a father and not every father acts like a father.  Look around your neighborhood and see if you can count at least two children who are being raised by their single mom.  She may or may not be struggling with trying to keep these children fed and clothed.  If she is raising boys...there is no male figure in the home where the child can learn those "certain" things that only a man can be able to teach him.  The flip side of this coin is that there is a father in the home but is he living up to to the title of being a father?  Does he really take care of the family and spend time with the children?  Is he someone that the child can go out and say..."I love my Dad because he does ??? for me.  He shows me or he helps me to do ???

Maybe the father you are thinking about is above and beyond exceptional. He could be a model for all the men who have this title.  He could write HIS own book on how to be a #1 Dad or do a conference giving pointers on how to be or become a #1 Dad.

On this card I used:

cardstock: Recollection brown...bronze and a sheet from Vintage Colobok

music sheet from DCWV heirloom

guitar and hat from Jolee's sticker

# and 1 came from chipboard pieces out of my stash

tags and circle from K&Company with the "D.A.D." from sticker letters.

Sending a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"Card Featuring Spellbinders A2 Locking Loops"

Welcome to Friday my dear Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
We made it to the end of the work week and the beginning of our weekend.  More rain is predicted for our weekend in my part of the world but today will be lovely.  Plenty of sunshine and 72 degrees.  I have flowers to plant outside.  I'm going to make a succulent garden for inside the house and I have house plants that need bigger pots.  What a fun filled two hours at the max for me.
So let's get to what I have to share in the card making arena today.  All week, I've used some old and experimented with some new...it is the same for today.  I chose to highlight a  Spellbinder's die (A2 Locking Loops) and a stamp that has been sitting for a while.

Enabler's List:

cardstock: light blue and brown Recollection and bronze from Paper and More Company

DP: Vintage by Colorbok

embellishments: prima flowers with faux Martha Stewart pearls

die: Spellbinders A2 Locking Loops and Romantic Vines

stamp: Stamp abilities "Some People"

Challenge Entry: WordArtWednesday  Challenge #230-#231 - Anything Goes

Enabler's List:

cardstock: craft, bronze (Paper and More)....Ranger watercolor paper

DP: Vintage by Colorbok

die: Our Daily Bread double stitch circle

water color paints

stamp: Prima (Seashore)

3D stickers from Paper House

Thanks for visiting with me today.  There are so many other things that I want to use again...until then, enjoy your life and have a blast this weekend!!!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"Cricut Explore + Suburbia Cartridge = Father's Day Card"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
If you have been following me all week, you know I've either used something old or tried something new in my card creations.  Today is no different.  I have dies, paper, embossing folders, etc. that have been sitting unused that needs my attention.  I've tried to use something this week that I haven't used in a while.  I explored my Cricut Explore  yesterday afternoon ( this has been sitting for more than two months).  I wanted to make a Father's Day card and I remembered I had a cartridge with images on it.  The cartridge is called "Suburbia"( shop around for a discount price...this cartridge has been around for a while).  The Design Space on the Cricut website was also used (I have my cartridges connected to my Explore on this site).
Here are two cards I'm sharing for your view today:

This card has the following items:

craft cardstock for the A2 base; brown Recollection cardstock for matting (1/8 inch less than base) and a piece of floral paper for the focal area.  On top of the blue floral paper is a doily cut in white and brown.  An umbrella cut from Spellbinder's in'spire die has been water colored on top of gesso. The pennant was cut using a piece of handwritten DCWV paper and a sticker  with the words "Rejoice in the  LORD always has been placed on top of it.  Three faux gems  and a  piece of gold Offray ribbon has been used for embellishments.

 

This "Father's Day" card was made with the following:
Recollection light blue cardstock for the base A2 size; brown Recollection cardstock for matting;
Bohemian Bamboo paper from Prima Marketing and a piece of vintage paper from Colorbok paper plus.  I used the Cricut Explore and the Suburbia Cartridge to cut out the silhouette of a man.  The vintage paper was used in my printer to print out the message.  Light blue Offray ribbon was use along with three faux gems for embellishment.
This card will be entered in SOC 1st and 3rd challenge and the Outlawz Sketch Challenge.

Come back tomorrow to see what use.  I still have a number of items that needs my attention.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"Geometric Design"

Hello on this Wednesday... Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
It is a great cold rainy day in my neighborhood...I'm still here and I'm still Blessed to be here.
What's up with you and your world during this middle of the week day?  Are you trying something new and different or are you sticking to the same old way of doing things?
I'm trying something out of my comfort zone today...geometric design with water coloring.  The water coloring is not new, but the way I used it as a design is very new to me.  I saw something like this while surfing Pinterest but it was called the "retiform technique" and distress inks were used.  I'm not calling my pattern "retiform" because I didn't follow that pattern...as they say...I did it "MY  WAY".
Google "retiform technique" in card making and then take a look at what I did:
Two of these cards were made with Neenah white cardstock for the base (4.25 x 5.50) and one uses craft cardstock for the base.  The matting is black Recollection cardstock and the focal paper is Ranger water coloring paper that has been water colored with various water color paints.

Some of the stamps used on this piece are: Fiskars For the Birds (Live your life);Hero Arts  Happy Day (smile); jillibean soup handwritten sentiments (hello there! and love you bunches.);  Heidi Swapp (finger pointing); Hero Arts CL351 (little flower).

Some of the stamps used on this piece are: jillibean soup handwritten sentiments ( This is me missing you and Wishing you joy); Studio g Alison Wong (Hello, smile like you mean it and it's the little things) 

Neenah white cardstock for base; Recollection black cardstock for matting; Ranger water color paper for focal image.

Stamps used on this piece are: Penny Black petal party which was heat embossed with white embossing powder; On top of that image is Penny Black blooming garden poppy that has been colored with a red colored pencil and then covered with studio g glitter followed by black stitching around the image ; The "Happy for you!" came from Fiskars' petals from scratch stamp. Each panel has been water colored using water color paints. 

I'm trying old and new things this week.  I'm not sure which direction I'll be headed tomorrow but come back and see what I find to do.

Thanks for viewing today.  Make it a joyful, happy one and don't forget to help someone else along the way.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"The Unused Craft Bend"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewer.
I want to say I'm doing Spring cleaning but it doesn't feel like Spring.  So, I'm just organizing some things in my craft space.  Do you like that better?  I sure do!  While organizing, there were many (I'm just astonished ) things that I haven't used in over a year... (don't tell).
This is my pattern... I see something that I think needs to be among my crafting supplies...I look for sales...I buy...I use it once or twice...I file it...I forget I have it...then when I clean up...it's like shopping all over again... (but this time it is free to use).
Who else is like this?
 I came across some Spellbinders dies that I have only used once or twice.  The last time I  used them was about two years ago.  I decided to use one today on the card I made for your viewing:

 

For the Enabler's List:
cardstock: Neenah white cardstock, dark blue Recollection cardstock
 and a pattern piece from  DCWV Stack 7
die: Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop
Sentiment: Cosmo Cricket Tiny Text "Never give up"
Embellishment: Martha Stewart butterfly
used the Sizzix Big Shot to cut out the die.
Entry: http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
           http://www.scrapbook.com

Stay turned for  other dies and materials that I have not used in over one or two years.  I surprised myself with what can be achieved with "the old".
Thanks for viewing today.  Come back again!!!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"Trying Distress Ink Lifting For The 1st Time"

Hello Visitors, Friends, Viewers and Followers.
Happy "cold" Monday to all the people in my neighborhood.  My coat came out so I could wear it again.  Yesterday I had to change what I had intended to wear to church due to the drop in temperature.  My early appointment this morning required even a heavier garment than yesterday.  Well, so much for my coldness, what about yours ...you with the 85 degrees, sweating with a pair of shorts on and your feet out...yes YOU my dear
 ( smile when you read this line)?
I had some down time and I watched some crafting on Youtube.  Out of the ones I checked out, I made a card from the instructions provided by Jennifer   McGuire...http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2016/02/lifting.html.
She stated..."Distress Ink “lifting” can be done with just Distress Ink and water". To myself I said, Oh what fun! I have distress inks and plenty of water.  What can go wrong?  So, I used her instruction in  the video  for today's card:

I, per her  recommendation, heat embossed an outline image on regular white cardstock.  I used an image from Penny Black's blooming garden clean stamp set (hydrangea) on Neenah  white cardstock.  I  then *generously* covered the entire piece with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink. 

Next, I used a brush to “drop” water inside the lines of the image as she instructed.  I also used water and a brush to add in bit of Shaded Lilac Distress Ink. I added pieces of paper ribbon to the corners of the distressed piece.  As Jennifer stated... this Distress Ink lifting technique is an easy one!  I'm impress with how it came out.  

This second card is simple for Spring has Sprung-GCC051616 challenge at the Outlawzchallenges.ning.com for today.

Neenah white cardstock was used for the 4.25 x 5.5 card base followed by a piece of Recollection black cardstock cut 1/8 inch less than the base.  On top of the black piece is a piece of Ranger watercolor paper that has been colored with water color paints in green, yellow and pink.  A branch has been cut out by hand and faux dogwood flowers from Martha Stewart  have been added along with a 3D bird from Paper House.  The sentiment is a sticker from Paper Studio Inspirational Phrases Gold Foil.

This third card is also for Outlawzchallenges.ning.com CAS challenge May 15.  This week's challenge: It is Mother's Day month in South Africa.  Your challenge is to make a card or project for the most important woman in your life. 

Neenah white cardstock was use for the 4.25 x 5.5 base followed by black Recollection cardstock cut 1/8 inch smaller than base.  An image from Hunkydory The Second Little Book of Decoupage was use along with a Paper Studio Mom Phrases Foiled sticker.

Thanks for viewing with me today.  Try the distress ink lifting...I'm sure you will like it.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"The Thirteenth Is The Thirteenth No Matter What Day Of The Week"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
It's Friday!  We are thankful that we made it to this day.  Some high school friends that I know didn't get to make it to see this day.  They departed this world earlier this week.  One had cancer and the other one was in a car accident.  So be grateful if you're reading this and decided to join me today.

It's not only Friday, but Friday the 13th.  Are you one of those people who has a fear of this day
 itself ?  It's called paraskevidekatriaphobia.  Why are so many people afraid of Friday the 13th?  Isn't it just like any other day of the week where we would have a 13?  What is going to happen today could have happened on a Monday the 13th or a Wednesday the 13th.  We need to stop being so superstitious. Let's enjoy life and stop thinking that today is an unlucky day.

Here is a card I'm sharing today:

 

Enabler's List:
cardstock and designer paper: Neenah white; Recollection black; Paper and More bronze; and Kanban gold
die: Cricut cuttlebug Flower Bramble;
Berwick craft ribbon
Jot 3D sticker
Todo Multi-Functional crafting machine
Perfect Paper Crafting mine perfect layers

Thanks for visiting and viewing with me today.  Enjoy your weekend!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"One Image...Two Backgrounds"

Hello Friends, Visitors, Viewers and Followers.
Hope all is well with you since yesterday.  We've worked our way to Thursday and it has been great fun.   Congrats to some people who have added another niche to their resume (a job, activity, etc., that is very suitable for someone...All the college graduates and those in high school in a few weeks.
: the situation in which a business's products or services can succeed by being sold to a particular kind or group of people...those who have created stamps, stencils, dies, inks etc., for us to use in the crafting world.   Check out ....Dana Joy @ http://www.gotjoycreations.blogspot.com. She has posted: "The Joy Collection will make it's debut at Brutus Monroe today (May 11, 2016).  I have two brand new stamp sets and a ink line available today at 9:00 AM EST.".  She does fabulous work!

I'm sharing one image on two cards today:

 

The image is from dylusions shattered bits (product of Ranger)
I presented her with two different backgrounds.  I'm not sure which one I like the best.

Thanks for viewing.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"Mixed....Me"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
I'm so happy to be with you again this morning. It is going to be another rainy day where I am.  I believe someone got April and May mixed up with which one bring the flowers.  It has been raining off and on every day in my part of the world for the last two weeks...still more rain for the remainder of this week...but I'm not complaining.  We need the water.
Today, I also decided to mixed things up a little.  I did some preparing before this morning so that everything could be dry and I could get started and be finish before noon.  You know that things don't always work out the way you want them to work out.
 The gesso and water coloring was dry (check).  The items to put on the card were laid out (check).  But....there is always a "but"...I decided I didn't like what I had so I became a little mixed up in choosing other items.   After pulling out and putting back items and cutting more...here is what I finally adhered together:

Entry for WordArtWednesday #230-#231

Card #1....It Is Well With My Soul

Card #2...I can do All Things Through Christ which Strengthen Me  Phil.4:13

Both projects were made with items that I had previously cut out and filed for future use.  The die cut for today is on the last card (beige floral vine and the piece behind the woman's head....Spellbinder dies).

I'm always using Neenah white cardstock and Recollection black cardstock.  The top card has cardboard for the focal area and the bottom card has a piece of Ranger water color paper.

Hope your day will go smoother than mine.  Maybe you want get mixed up with whatever you are trying to accomplish.

Thanks for visiting.  Come again!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"ON THE EDGE"

Well hello friends, followers, visitors and viewers.
Welcome to Tuesday!   I was exhausted yesterday from my weekend excursion but manage to get a couple of cards done without posting them.  After finishing the cards I went to a local nursery to buy my flowers to plant in my flower pots.  Yes, I printed that correctly...pots.  We have some perennials that I planted last year and they are growing so well in the pots... I'm going to try it again with some different flowers to see if they will come back again.
While at the nursery, a guy told me to buy a tomato plant...put it in the center of the pot and then plant marigolds (flowers) around the outside..."on the edge"...to keep the bugs and mosquito away...therefore he gave me a good title for my post this morning (since I didn't have time to write you something yesterday).
Also, while crafting this morning, there is a blog that asked for cards made with -die cut or decorate the edge of your card (how convenient).
So here is what I had for yesterday and today (picture heavy):

 

This card has the die cut on the edge from Maianne design creatables.  It has three ribbon flowers and vellum swirls. I've used Neenah white cardstock for the base.  A scrap piece was used to decorate the inside.

This card has the die cut using a punch to achieve the look (Little B Moroccan Window).

This card has has the decoupage flowers.   Image came from Hunkydory The Orient little book.  Three sequins were added.

This card has a Martha Stewart butterfly that blends in with the background paper from DCWV The Far East Stack.

Plant something on the edge...sit  on the edge of your seat...don't walk to close to the edge...

Thanks for your view and time today.  Go forth and do something wonderful today....

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"Having A Good Sense Of Humor"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
Let's catch up....
My husband won his third term for our Town Council....congrats to him and to all of you who wished him much success and to those who actually voted for him.
I hope you celebrated Cinco de Mayo on yesterday...Maybe you went to a National Day of Prayer program in your area...
Let's move forward...
May 6, 2016- NATIONAL CREPE SUZETTE DAY – NATIONAL NURSES DAY – NATIONAL SPACE DAY – NATIONAL MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY – NATIONAL BEVERAGE DAY – NATIONAL PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY
Which one will you indulge in today?    I know a lot of Nurses, so I'm all for celebrating the wonderful jobs they do (especially those that I know personally).
Are you a naturally funny person? Do people find you hilarious?
I've been told many times to stop being so serious...what about you?
Today, I just want to show  a little humor from me.   It is not intended to offend anyone.   I received a little paper pad  "The Little Book Of Golden Oldies" by Hunkydory.  I just couldn't let it sit, so I made something from this little book:

 

Now, back to my more serious side

Entry for WordArtWednesday.blogspot.com

Cardstock: Neenah white and Recollection black

Specialty Paper: Recollection Steampunk Botanical

"May The 4th Be With You"

Hello Viewers, Friends, Visitors and Followers.
It's another days journey and we are looking forward to making a difference in someone's life today.
Will you join us in making this Wednesday, May 4th special for someone you know or someone you admire.
Star Wars fans have something to celebrate today....so go forth and enjoy.
If you are into orange peels...today is for you also...Candied Orange Peels are a boiled, sliced and sugared treat.  They are very popular with chefs and bakers as well as often used during the holidays in cookies, fruitcakes and other snacks.
If you don't like star wars or orange peels, how about the birds....orange juice...  or this one... Observed annually on May 4th, National Renewal Day was created for new beginnings.  National Renewal Day is meant to reinvigorate us after a long winter.  Whether we choose to refresh our souls or replace our old rugs with new, we are to set to work polishing up our state of being.
If you are still not interested in those four, here are two more:  National Weather Observers Day is an annual designation on May 4th.  This special day is for the people who enjoy watching and observing the weather.  National Bike to School Day was created to provide an opportunity for schools across the nation to join together to celebrate the energy of National Bike Month.
All in all, may the fourth of May be with you no matter how you celebrate.
I'm just having some fun with a sketch I saw on a site this morning and I'm just giving it a try:

 

This "hello" card just reminds me of Spring.  The flowers are blooming and bugs are coming out to play.  You don't really want to harm them, so you catch them in a net, let the children swing them in the air and finally release them back into the environment.
To make this "hello" card:
cardstock: Neenah white and Recollection black;  The polka dot red & white piece came from Colorbok
black netting was used behind the circle cut out.  ***circle was cut with Our Daily Bread designs double stitched circle die.
stickers: Jolee
"hello" was cut using friendship words script from Sizzix thinlits by Tim Holtz alterations

This second card was made using the following;

cardstock: Neenah white; Recollection black and  Colobok (red & white polka dot)

embellishments: camera and sentiment from K&Company Kelly Panacci layered accents

Go forth and conquer something nice today.  May it be May 4, 2016 – NATIONAL STAR WARS DAY – NATIONAL CANDIED ORANGE PEEL DAY – BIRD DAY – NATIONAL ORANGE JUICE DAY – NATIONAL RENEWAL DAY – NATIONAL WEATHER OBSERVERS DAY – NATIONAL BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"TEACHER Appreciation"

Hello Friends, Followers, Visitors and Viewers.
Thanks once again for coming to see what I'm doing on this beautiful, rainy day.
We've voted (our little town has an election day every two years for town officials...my husband is trying for his 3rd term on our Town Council).
Today is Teacher Appreciation day and it will be celebrated all week in some schools.
I'm a retired public school teacher who respect this week and this day along with all the teachers  around the world.  The National Education Association describes National Teacher Day  “as a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives”.  Teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children: the future leaders of our country.  They are kind, patient, hard-working, dedicated and understanding professionals that mold our children’s lives in a positive direction.  We entrust our children with the teachers, and they affect their lives on a daily basis.
I had the privileged for 30+ years to work with children who were categorized in the area of "special needs".  Some people viewed these children as little ones who had problems and needed to be fixed because they could not maintain the activities and learning environment of a "regular classroom".   They were and are so wrong in their thinking. The children I encounter throughout my professional career could and did maintain academic excellence.  They needed someone to show them another way of learning something that came natural to the average child.
The first card reflect the children I worked with over the years and the second card reflect the attitude of any teacher going into a classroom each day (regular or "special needs"):

 

Enabler's List
cardstock: Neenah white (4.25 x 5.50); Recollection pink (cut 1/8 inch less than white) and black ( cut 1/8 inch less than pink)
pattern paper from Colobok pattern paper
punch: ek success
embellishments: circles in various sizes cut from paper in my stash
Challenge: entry for MojoMonday.blogspot.com #446 Contest

 

Here is the second card and what I used to make it:
Neenah white cardstock; brown Recollection cardstock
stamp (for lady) dylusions Ranger mini couture....dress was stamped on paper from my stash as well as the hat.
sentiment: stamped from Hero Arts Happy Day stamp
Embellishments:  Martha Stewart flowers and Recollection faux gems
punch: ek success
Challenge: entry for WordArtWednesday.blogspot.com
                  entry for ScrapsofColor.ning.com  First and Third Challenge for May 1, 2016 through May 13, 2016    FT051316

Hug a teacher; Respect a teacher; Love a teacher; today.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois

"April Showers Bring May Flowers"

Good Monday to my Friends, Followers, Visitors, and Viewers.
Welcome back from your weekend of fun and excitement.  
It's May!  I know you turned your calendar(s) yesterday, but I just wanted to make a statement to those who are still functioning in April.
Tomorrow, May 3, our little town will be voting for their town officers.  My husband is trying to receive votes for his third term...wish him some success in doing so.
We heard and have repeated this statement...April showers bring May flowers.
We had a lot of rain in April and to begin May, it was raining yesterday.  I almost got soaked coming out of church yesterday...that's how hard it was coming down.  The weather prediction is for rain every day this week in my part of the world.  But, are the flowers blooming?  Yes, they are.  I have what is called a Mother's Day rose bush outside my kitchen window (it was actually a bush we dug up and replanted at our house after my mother died years, and years ago) and it is loaded with blooms ready to pop open (it does this every year for Mother's Day).  Other perennial flowers are emerging out of the ground.  With all the rain we were and is having I thought they would have drown...but God is allowing them to do their thing again this year.
Over at the Outlawzchallenges.ning.com Monday Greetings, they are having a challenge for this Monday pertaining to April Showers bring May Flowers and I decided to create a card for this:

"SPRING HAS SPRUNG - MAY 2 - GCC050216"

 cardstock: Neenah white; Recollection blue and black; Ranger water color paper
die: Spellbinders in'spire umbrella die
stickers:  American Crafts Dear Lizzy;  Recollection adhesive faux pearls; Sandy Lion essentials; Martha Stewart dogwood stickers
homemade rolled ribbon flowers.

CAS05012016 for CAS Challenge @ the Outlawz

Cardstock: Neenah white; DCWV The Shimmer Stack; vellum

stamp :Inkadinkado beauty stems

ink: Ranger Inkssentials Emboss it ink pad;  Ranger super fine gold embossing powder; Ranger abandoned coral  distress marker

stickers: Recollection faux gems; Paper Studio stick abilities

Watch your flower garden  and see if April showers really did bring May flowers.

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois