Free Things To Do & A Simple Birthday Card...

WOW! Who invented the phrase "lazy days of summer?" Where are those lazy days? I need one or two of them! Life hasn't slowed down a bit, which I guess is a good thing, but I am absolutely exhausted and see a nap in my very near future *wink*. The heat always puts me in the mood to sleep, and today it is a whopping 93 degrees - way too hot for me! So we went to the free movie to see Barnyard this morning - cute!

Speaking of free movie... I have made it my mission this summer to find lots of things to do for free. My friends and family always laugh, it's become quite a joke that not only am I always looking for a bargain, but I almost always use a coupon. Perhaps you can benefit from my bargain hunting. Here are some of the things I have found that don't have to cost a dime: bowling, the movies, playdates at the park, hikes, picnics, scavenger hunts, geocaching, the pool. The possibilities are endless with a little imagination. Some days we just spend the morning on our back deck fingerpainting (no mess that can't be hosed down!). In the end, what it comes down to is spending time with family and having fun! I hope you found something here that you may not have thought of, now go have some fun!

On a more crafty note, I was going through my pictures trying to organize them a bit, and found some cards I made over the last few months that I never shared on my blog and wished I had. Here is one such card...
I plan to do this card again with different colors, I really like the layout. I used a variety of stamps here, Technique Tuesday, See D's, Cornish Heritage Farms - I think I was trying to use things I had never used before. I even sewed! That takes some effort for me 'cause I hate lugging the machine out and setting it up. It really does add something to a card though. I wish you could see the CHF background stamp more, but the ink I used, PTI Aqua Mist, never comes up very dark in pics. Everything else on the card is pretty self-explanatory.

Well, I really think that nap is calling me, matter of fact it is screaming my name! I will wrap it up with my supply list and call it a day! Tomorrow is volunteer day, so perhaps I will get a chance to post this weekend.

Have a fabulous weekend!

As always, thanks for stopping by!



What I Used:
Stamps: Technique Tuesday sentiment, See D's flowers, Pretty Pattern Backgrounder CHF
Paper: Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate and Vintage Cream
Ink: Paperrey Ink Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: Pearls from Michaels, Scotch dimensional tape, EK Success flower punch, whole punch, SU! Taffeta ribbon, sewing machine, Fiskars Threading Water border punch

Pretty Circles...

I was looking through some of the projects I have worked on over the last few months of my "Blog Hiatus" and I knew I had to share this one. This was one of my favorite cards, so simple yet so pretty. I actually made this one for my mom with some of the first stamp sets I ever purchased outside of Stampin Up! (cause you know we all started there.) Each circle/flower is an individual stamp, most are from Art Warehouse, but the curly circle is Papertrey Ink.

I cut the center flower out and the hexagonal shape and propped each up with Scotch dimensional tape. I like this tape better than the SU! or MM dimensionals because it isn't as thick; it doesn't make things stand up as high so it makes it easier to mail cards without any extra postage. But of course I added pearls to the center and the "scrolly" circle, so added postage was necessary anyway :D! Here is a close-up of the pearls...

Like I said, one of my favorite cards. I hope you enjoyed it too!

I'm going to try to be short and sweet with my posts, perhaps that will make it easier for me to keep posting on a more regular basis, and most of you probably don't enjoy me blabbering on anyway - LOL! My hope is that when you come visit my blog you will find some inspiration and will enjoy visiting with someone who is enjoying the blessings that life has to offer.

Hope you enjoyed your visit today! As always, thanks for stopping by!

What I Used:
Paper: Kraft and SS White (Papertrey Ink)
Stamps: Graphic Flowers (Art Warehouse), Interactive Circles Small (Art Warehouse), and Borders & Corners {Circle} (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Craft White (SU!)
Accessories: Pearls from Michaels, ribbon Spring Moss (Papertrey), dimensional tape (Scotch), Large Scallop Scissors (from the dollar store and they work pretty well :) )

I Am Still Here!

I just wanted to check in to say I am still here!

I have had several emails asking if I am still using my blog, or still crafting for that matter. Yes, I am and have been crafting off and on. I needed a little break, and I needed to feel like I was making a difference somewhere. Life got monotonous, and that is NEVER good for me! So I have been volunteering in various capacities to kind of fill that void. It's been nice and I will continue to do it, just not as often since summer is here and I want to devote more time to my family.

We have also had A LOT going on here at the ole' homestead. Our house is finally on the market, my son finished pre-school, I am teaching myself how to crochet, I am going back to school, and spending lots of family time together.

I want to desperately give the Ole' Blog a makeover too, just haven't found the time to do it.

With that said, I will have some pics edited and posted by this weekend, both things I have made and places we have been.

I hope you will hang in there with me!

Have a fabulous day!