Be You

...what else is there to be? That's one of the themes I harp on in my classroom. If you don't decide who you are, someone else will do it for you and tell you who you are. The years from, I think, about 4th-10th grades are tough that way.

This morning, I'm posting a thank-you card for my sister. She's kind of tough to 'card' for - she's a girl, but not big on girlie. Kind of have to pull a combo, if you know what I mean.

It's for the challenges:
MFT's Wednesday Stamp Club - a sketch challenge, check it out at Splitcoast!
CASE Study Challenge - Use this (way fab) card as inspiration


The recipe:
Echo Park DP, just be and big ol' u are from Verve. The edges for the left-hand strip and the scroll are MFT die-namics. Heart die is an ancient Cuttlebug. Rhinestones and button from the stash.

Thanks so much for coming by today! Have a wonderful new year!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Sunny Days

Have been nice! We're having a stretch of blue skies here, and decided to take advantage by doing a quickie overnight trip to Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium. As my almost-teen would say, "This place is boss!" It really is amazing. If ever you're anywhere within driving distance, it's soooo worth the trip. This is said DS, mesmerized by the gigundous tank that includes, among other fish, mantas and 2 whale sharks:

He's always loved aquariums. When I watched him yesterday, I could see the three-year old version come out. The one where the wonder of the ocean kind of takes over. Here's what had him so rapt:

I was wondering if the ray was having problems with his rudder, but he would take breaks. :)

But I digress,
Getting those Christmas thank-yous done and in the mail by the time I go back to teach Monday will be a challenge!
Here's the first:

It's also for the challenges at:
4 Crafty Chicks Crazy Egg Challenge - Use something new. Used the new Verve set and dies I got from my mom for Christmas to make her card.
Frosted Designs - Something New.
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Mojo Monday - use this sketch:

If you scroll down one entry, I got a square one done, too!

The recipe:
Images are Verve's Sunny Days; its coordinating die set cut the greenery. Paper is Echo Park -  Victoria's Garden. Lace and ribbon are Really Reasonable Ribbon, scallop and regular circles were cut with a Nestie.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy something amazing, as we did in ATL. Please leave a comment, and come again soon!

Hugs,
Elizabeth

Up, Up, and Away!

I'm having fun with the goodies left under my tree. Yeah, I'm a dork, but I embrace that, so, technically, my dorkiness is really kind of punk. So nerdy, it's actually hip. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Dad's birthday is on Monday, so I really did need to whip something up. Masculine cards are not my forte. As in, "What, no ribbons and flowers? Now what?" Drives me nuts.

Here's what I managed:

It's also for the challenges at:
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
City Crafter Challenge - Make the Cut - I fussy-cut and paper-pieced the hot air balloons.
Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
Mojo Monday - Use this sketch:


I like these sketches! I might get a round one done, too.

The recipe:
Images: Verve (Sunny Days and Words of Wisdom) They're having an awesome sale! Makes my shoestrings a bit longer! :)
Taylored Expressions - Sky's the Limit. They've got a sale, too, but this set has a bunch of images and 3 dies for $13.95 - a steal, really. The clouds are cut with dies from this set. There's a die for making bigger balloons than the ones I used here.
Paper - DP is Echo Park, cardstock is Bazzill.
Odds and Ends - Used a Cuttlebug folder to emboss the polka-dots. Button and twine from the stash. Black ink is Momento, red is Fired Brick Distress Ink.

Thanks for stopping by today! I genuinely appreciate comments and learn from them. Please come again soon.

Happy New Year!
Elizabeth

Hang Ten!

My nephew will be 10 this spring! I get that, because he's 3 years younger than my almost-13 year old, but it's hard to believe that both of them are getting so old. *sigh*

Anyway, I'm loading up the stash for the rest of the school year. Here's my favorite (only) nephew's birthday card:

It's also for the challenges at:
Embellish Magazine - Color/Mixed Patterns - Blue, Green, Yellow, Brown. I've mixed polka-dots, houndstooth, and a floral.
The Deconstructed Sketch - Here's the sketch:

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Anything Goes

The recipe: DP is from Creative Imaginations. Sanded CS is Core'dinations, Images are Verve. Stamped in Walnut Stain  and Faded Jeans Distress Inks. Wavy die is from MFT. Canvas from the stash.

Oh, later today, we're going to begin a lending account at Kiva.org. It's an international group that lends microloans to people trying to get businesses and farms going in developing nations. Way cool. It only takes $25 to participate. You lend, get paid back (whether or not there's interest involved depends...) and then loan it to someone else. A crummy 25 bucks can lead to economic independence for lots of people! Yay, recycling!

Yes, I live on the shoestring, but at least I've got shoes.

Have a wonderful holiday!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

It's also a great educational opportunity for the kids in your house - geography, economics, culture, etc.

Mom's Seventeenth Birthday

... is this year! OK, I know that sounds weird, since I'm 43, but 2012 is a leap year, and that means that my mom gets an actual birthday! Woo-hoo!
    I'm using my Christmas break to work on my second-semester stash. While I still can't come up with anything for Dad's birthday - next week - this one's under control.

It's also for the challenges at:
Paper Sundaes - Celebrate (Heck, yeah, a birthday every four years?! We're gonna celebrate!)
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Celebration (see above.) :)
Frosted Designs - Use ribbon (I pleated and stitched down some grossgrain.)
Totally Papercrafts - Time to Party
Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge - Use this sketch:


The recipe:
All papers are Echo Park, stamps are from Verve.Scalloped circle die is from MFT. There are sparkly dots of diamond Stickles in between the scallops, but they didn't photograph.

By the way, Mom's not the only Leap Year baby I know. My teammate has a second grader who will have her second birthday in February. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a peaceful and happy Holiday!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

A *pink* Christmas!

... Had to! My nieces love all things pink! (Or 'pank', bless their little Southern hearts!) Couldn't disappoint. Actually, I had wanted to do something all pink and bling-y, but it just wouldn't work. Ever have a card that just didn't want to be a certain way? Weird.

Here's this morning's offering:

It's also for the challenges at:
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Going Round in Circles
Craft Your Passion Challenges - 'Tis the Season
Crafty Creations Challenge - Christmas
Fab 'n' Funky - Anything Goes
Mojo Monday - Use one of these sketches:


I hope you're having a wonderful start to your holiday season! Thanks so much for stopping by. I so appreciate comments! Come back, now! (That's Southern for 'Please come again soon' One day, I'll put together a dictionary.)
Have a fabulous day,
Elizabeth