Happy Retirement! Me Too!

Well, it is Tuesday again, time for another Shopping Our Stash challenge! This week's challenge is all about using really old DP (designer paper)...any paper or cardstock with a print on it. And not just OLD but the OLDEST in our stash!

Challenge #90: Use Your Oldest Designer Paper

 I had to really dig for this one AND test my lazy memory! I chose an outdoorsy pine tree paper that I bought way back when I only did some scrapbooking, in my pre-card making days...I'm thinking around 1995 or earlier. Here's what I did with it:

My brother just retired from US Gypsum after 33 years so I sent him this card and it should arrive there today. Hope he likes it! The cute "guy" image is from Pollycraft called "Maurice-Ready for business". I colored him with Memento & Spectrum Noir markers. And that DOES kinda look like my brother! He was the IT guy (geek) at USG, has worn glasses forever and is definitely kinda pudgy! But the tie...nope, only at funerals!

The sentiments on the front and on the inside, and the Bible verse, are computer-generated (that font is called "Fineliner Script"), the old DP is from Hobby Lobby and the rest is just from my stash; the die cuts on the front are Spellbinders Labels 15 and the little sparkle dots are EK Success.

I'm entering this card in just a few challenges:

http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com - "Something for a Man"

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk - #209 "Men Only!"

http://www.totallygorjuss.blogspot.com - #171 "For the Men"

http://guylousinimitability.blogspot.com - "bingo Card Challenge"- I used the middle row across: starts with a G (Guy in Glasses), *FREE*(bling), die cut

So, about MY retirement...well it is not from a job, it is from this DT! I decided to step down from Shopping Our Stash too. I left another DT last month and decided I needed to simplify even more yet. This is my last contribution to the SOS team. This has been such a fun design team to serve on! My fellow DT members are SO creative and witty and funny! It has been a pleasure to get to know these uber-talented girls! Thanks, Girls, for sharing yourselves a bit with me, especially the individual creative genius each of you brings to SOS! I will miss the weekly interaction but will definitely be popping in to check up on everyone from time to time. Thanks especially to Carla for her patience and encouragement as well!

And thank you, Reader, for stopping by today and diligently reading all the way to the bottom!! I hope you are inspired to join in this challenge that should certainly help you use up some of your stash!

Have a very blessed day, my friends!

Love, Love, Love!

Today I'd just like to show you all a card I made for a very special couple from my church. They just got married last week! They are 81 & 78 years old! They are like youngsters in love....it is SO cute! We are so happy for them! They are both very active, healthy, vivacious people, both love the Lord...a great match!

The bride wore a lovely light red dress for the wedding so I colored the image accordingly!

The foil is actually some very old gift wrap. It doesn't show up well in the photo but there is pearl acrylic paint daubed on the embossed background and on the gray sponged ink as a frame around the image. Stickles were added only to the flowers...and to the heart on the inside of the card.

On the inside I wanted to carry through the "scrolly" idea and still keep it simple.

I thought the Bible verse was so appropriate because I remember the groom saying to me shortly after they got engaged, "Who would have thought we could feel like teenagers in love again?"

Here is my list of ingredients:

Card front

Cuttlebug embossing folder*- "Madison"

Spellbinders dies*- "Labels 15" & "Fleur de Lis Accents" (border)

Pollycraft digital image- "Cuthbert & Kiki Wedding" colored with

Spectrum Noir & Memento markers*

Memento ink*- "London Fog"

Adirondack Metalics paint dauber*- "Pearl"

Ranger Stickles*- "Star Dust"

Clear gems & white pearls- from my stash

Card stock and foil- from my stash

Card inside

Sentiment is computer generated

Spellbinders dies*- "Card Creator" (used for mask for sponged frame) &

"Fleur de Lis Accents" (corners)

JustRite Bible verse*- "Cast All Your Cares"

Inkadinkadoo heart stamp- "Love & Friendship"

*these items all came from my friend Cindy's wonderful online store www.stampingscrapping.com

I am entering this card in several challenges, some of which want us to use up old stuff from our stashes of supplies (I LOVE those challenges that make me rediscover and use up neglected items!). The really old and/or neglected stuff is: the Spectrum Noir & Memento markers, the clear gems, the foil and the Inkadinkadoo stamp.

http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com- #99 "Valentine-Anything Goes"

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com- #102 "Color- Red, Pink, Purple and/or White"

http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com- #104 "Romance Challenge"

http://craftdoormagazine.com- TTCRD #2013-7 "Anything Goes"

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com- "Stash: red/white items- Anything Goes"

Thanks so much for stopping in today! I would love it if you'd leave a quick comment....I'd like to visit your blog too!

Happy B-day to Clayton & Calvin!

Its Tuesday again and time for another Shopping Our Stash challenge! This one was perfect timing for me...I had 2 birthday cards I had to make for 2 of my grandsons. Yep, that's this week's theme:
Challenge 89 - Birthday theme- birthday card or layout, tag, etc.

Clayton's card

Clayton just turned 11 and his 2 main interests are 'video' games (I think they are called something else now!) and skinny jeans. We got him a couple pairs of skinny jeans and he was quite pleased....whew! It helped that his older sister told him they were cool. (Thanks, Pearl!)

For his card I wanted something not "little boyish" so I drew a simple pair of jeans, long and skinny, and painted the image with watercolor paints. Added a sideways sentiment and a little strip of denim* with faux stitching instead of ribbon. And not even any Stickles! But the brad does have a black rhinestone!

*the denim has been hanging around my laundry room for years for patching (which I haven't done in years!)

Calvin's card

Inside

For calvin, who is only one year old, I could still do a cutsie little-boy card! The image is a digital one from Pollycraft Stamps called "Frog" (go figure!). He is colored with Spectrum Noir and Memento markers. I used my Spellbinders Standard Circle die and Lg Scalloped Circle die, Microsoft Word to make the "1st", Stampin' Up HB stamp, and several really old buttons. On the inside the greeting is computer generated and the Bible verse is a JustRite clear stamp. The striped paper is a few years old and was a bit dog-eared...had to trim all the edges to use it. Super-old heart stickers too!

Everyone needs birthday cards frequently, right? Why not whip one up and join the challenge at SOS this week. We'd love to see what you create!

I'm also going to enter these in a few challenges:

Skinny Jeans card-

http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/- #37 "Cards for Boys"

http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/- #60 "Sewing, Real or Drawn"

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/- #119 "Favorite Color Combo" (red, black, white)

Frog card-

http://avenue613.blogspot.com/- #6 "Sketch #1"

SSiC # 155 + Birthday Blog Hop!

This Sunday is SSiC's 3rd Birthday and we invite you to celebrate with us by way of a Birthday Blog Hop!! 

Helen is our lovely challenge hostess this week.  The challenge is to make a birthday card and is inspired by this Scripture:  John 3:3

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Please be sure to read Helen's devotional on this Scripture on our challenge blog!

Our challenge sponsor is Verses, who is donating a $15 Gift Card to one random participant in our card challenge (please link your card in our Linky) and as always, we will pick 3 Shining Stars who's cards will be showcased the following Tuesday on our blog!

And now for the Blog Hop!  We will pick 3 random winners who complete the hop and who leave a comment on all our DT's blogs!  Hoppers do not have to make a card and enter our challenge, although we'd love it if they did!  Hoppers could win one of the following:

$20 GC to Daydream Designs,

3 Free digis from The Digi Garden,

and 3 digi sets from Carly's Cuties

Winners from the blog hop will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 11th
along with our challenge winner and Shining Stars.

Here's the order... Happy Hoppin'!!

SSiC -- Start Here

Candace- Creatively Candace 
Diane- Diane's Designs
Helen- Creative Jeans
Jerusha- I Love Paper Crafting

Kris- Ink Something 2
Laura - http://lozzapoppins.blogspot.com/

Linda- Lovely Linda's Craft Central
Marilynn- Mississippi McGyver
Michelle- My Papered Cottage
Miesje- Craft Room with a View
Peggysue- Roses by My Window
Sandie (ME)- Sandies Card Garden

Traci- Major Moments

Stampin Sisters in Christ

Here is my birthday card...its for my son who watches the stock market closely!

I will add a few more details about what items/products I used in making this card after I get home from church this morning. Running late!

Ok, I'm back! Here is my short list of ingredients:

The cute "guy" image is from Pollycraft Digital Images.

He's colored with colored pencils.

The red, blue & green cardstock are from my stash.

The lined background paper is an actual accounting page!

It has a fine layer of Smooch Spritz on it too.

"Happy Birthday" stamp - Stampin' Up

Hope you enjoy the HOP. If you came here from PeggySue's blog you are headed in the right direction! Next stop is Traci's (see list above). Don't forget to leave your comments...and then check back to see if you are one of the lucky winners!

Thanks for stopping by today!