Final Paper Craft Crew Card

A quick post tonight before I hit the shower and my bed.  Who would think you could be so tired sitting around the hospital all day!  But 12 hours at the hospital was enough.  Sonny came through the hip surgery with flying colors.  I don't think he will ever admit it, but he did say his pain today after surgery was nothing compared to the pain he has been having before surgery.  The surgery lasted about 1 1/2 hours and then another hour in Recovery.  I figured he'd be out of it all day but they gave him a spinal block and only a small bit of "la la" sedation meds so he was pretty awake when they took him to his room.  He was in the room around 2:30 and the Physical Therapist came in at 3:30 and had him up and walking down the hall.  I couldn't believe it but he did fine.  He was starving so I called Marianne and had her stop and get him an Italian Sub on her way home from work.  He ate that around 4:30 and when they brought his dinner tray, he ate most of that too!  I can already tell I am going to have my hands full when he gets home though trying to keep him from trying to do too much.  The Phy. Therapist had him sitting in a chair and told him to sit as long as he felt like it.  He made it a couple of hours and then had me help him get back in bed.  Well, he should have called a nurse to get him in the bed and they let him know it when they came in to check on him!!  He is hoping to be able to come home tomorrow afternoon but we'll see.  He is doing so good that I don't see why not though.

I forgot to share my last card I made for Paper Craft Crew.  I have been on the Design Team for 3-4 years and mostly made my cards using My Digital Studio.  When MDS was discontinued, I decided to turn in my resignation also.  Don't get me wrong - I will continue to use MDS (I just bought $130 worth of new downloads!) but just decided it was time to turn my focus somewhere else.

I love this baby card that I made with MDS - and just in time too.  My daughter-in-law's oldest girl had her own little girl last Friday.

MDS Monday 141 - Disney Style

Time for another MDS Monday sketch.  This makes me sad because after this one, there is only one more.  I am so thankful for Stampin' Up for this wonderful program.  I was never very good at scrapbooking but found my niche with My Digital Studio.  I even taught a few others to use it.  I will continue to use MDS but probably combine it with another program.  I need to check and make sure I have all the downloads I want before it is too late!

This week's sketch is based on a page that Cindy created when she applied to be on SU's Artisian Design Team a few years ago.  The flags and ferris wheel on her design are great but I decided to go a different route.  I still used pennants (or flags) on my sketch but instead of the ferris wheel, used a photo of The Magic Kingdom and lowered the opacity.  I also inserted it into a Frame Overlay from Thoughtful Overlays.

This is the first time I have used the Spiral Punch!  I layered a rectangle of white, a rectangle of black and then the spiral punch (colored white) on both sides.  After inserting the 4 photo boxes on top, I grouped everything together.  The polka dot background is also an overlay from Hello, World.

Products used on this page are:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Disney with MDS Monday

Sorry about the lack of posts this week but I think the pollen in the air and the budding spring trees has gotten to me!  I don't usually get allergies but think they've gotten me this spring!  My throat is killing me, my nose is running and I have lots of "gunk" in the back of my throat.

But I wanted to do a page for MDS Monday this week using one of the pictures from our trip last week to Disney.

The challenge was to use a single picture and the Freeeform Tool to tell the story.  I made the small Mickey Mouse's with circle punches.  What do you think?

I used two Overlay Stamps for the background - Textured and the Stars are from a Convention kit.  I ripped the edges of the DSP and layered it in the background of the picture.  To finish it off, I added a few Real Red buttons with Bakers Twine in the center.  Also the "oh what fun" is an Overlay Stamp.

Club Projects

This is my Stamp Club week.  We had fun making these cards this week:

This first one uses the birthday stamp from Sale-A-Bration along with the birthday DSP and Chalk Paper from the Occasions catalog along with the popular Bow Punch.

This is our Easter card. Most of the pieces for the card are retired - Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery card stock, ribbon and DSP.  I don't want to tell you how many cards I made trying to come up with this one!  We stamped the flowers directly onto the DSP.

This card uses Washi Tape - something I don't use very much  Some of the tape is from Stampin' Up and some is from one of the big box stores but since it matched Coastal Cabana so well, I had to use it!  We also used one of the newer photopolymer stamps - Lovely Amazing You - and the Bitty Butterfly Punch.

.Another easy card using the Vellum from Sale-A-Bration.  I just love this DSP! You can color it with markers but I decided to go simple.  I just cut a square of In Color DSP and backed the square of vellum allowing the DSP to show through the vellum.

More new Sale-A-Bration items:



We are now at the end of Sale-A-Bration with only 2 weeks left.  It's been a rough ride over the last few months with crazy back orders.  The west coast port strike has done a number of back-logged products sitting in crates for too long.  Stampin' Up! is trying their best to keep on top of it but I'm not sure anyone could fully keep up.  The good news is SU has kept us abreast of the situation and even given us a few new options during this period of time.  (See the new items added to Sale-a-Bration above.)  It didn't help that the Blendabilties are now discontinued.  In a way, it is a good thing because of the constant issues we were having with them.  I will miss them but think in due time Stampin' Up! will come up with another option down the road.

Stampin' Up! did make an announcement today that has broken my heart though and that is the discontinuation of My Digital Studio.  Last year it was announced that they would not be putting much effort into the program.  I have adored MDS, as you know, and have created many beautiful albums, hundreds of layouts and have enjoyed teaching digital art to others.  But the writing was on the wall and I knew this was coming; just not sure when so I can't say I was too surprised today. 

If you have downloaded My Digital Studio, no worries.  You can still use the program.  Stampin' Up! will not support the program after May 31st.  All digital downloads will be discontinued.  If there is something that you want or need .... NOW is the time to grab it.  The BIGGEST thing is to back up your current digital downloads.  I recommend an external hard drive - that is what I am going to do.  You can copy your components folder and put it on the external hardIoptions for printing.  I am going to be checking into Persnickety Prints as well as Shutterfly.

I will continue to create layouts and scrapbooks using digital files.  Stampin' Up got me hooked on digital and I see no reason to quit!


This week's weekly deals - 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Paper Craft Crew Challenge #127

This is my card for the Paper Craft Players sketch challenge this week:

This is a retired stamp set that I never purchased.  That is one of the reasons why I love MDS so much.  I can find stamps - retired and current - in the program and don't have to make room for them on my shelf in my craft room!!

Check out the other design team members cards using the sketch HERE

Use the sketch and create your own card!

.

Paper Craft Crew Challenge

Surprisingly enough, I got my card done and submitted in time for the Paper Craft Crew challenge.  I have been really bad lately and forgotten about it until it is too late to submit.  I am trying now to do two or three cards ahead so when I get busy, I won't forget.

The sketch this week was fairly easy so it did not take long at all .... expecially with MDS.

I used stitching around the whole card and around the center piece to tie it together.

Here is the sketch:

Check out the rest of the cards from the Design Team here - PAPER CRAFT CREW  We would love to have you play along and create a card for the challenge!

2015 Calendar with My Digital Studio

As much as I loved the holidays and spending time with my family and friends - especially having Ashley here for almost two weeks not to mention Bogart for 4 months (!!), it was nice to get back to "normal" today.  Ashley was a sweetheart and helped Sonny and I take down the tree and all the house decorations before she left so I didn't have to bother with that.  Last night after taking her to rhe airport, I straightened up all the gift wrap paper, bags, ribbon, tags, gift card holders, tissue, etc. and put them away in the attic until next year.  So today was wide open for doing a little card making!  I have two swaps (Occasions catalog and Sale-a-Bration) due in two weeks plus a shoebox card to make for this Saturday so I knew I had to get busy.  It was great to do some stamping that wasn't in red and green or other Christmas colors!!  Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas but by New Year's I'm done with it!

As you can see, I changed my blog header to a simple one for now.  I'll probably work on a Valentine one later but this was good for now.  The pennants and dotted background piece is actually a sheet of Designer Paper that I just filled a rectangle punch with.  All was left was my text and I used an Alphabet Punch (Smitten) and paper filled it - easy, peasy!

I always make Ashley a calendar for Christmas and she does the same for me on My Digital Studio.  This year, with her being at Ft Belvoir, she wasn't able to get it done for Christmas.  So, on Sunday, she used my computer to create one and I should be receiving it in a week or two.  Here is the one I made for her this year (without the date pages).  They end up being like an album of our year.  I always keep mine to look back at the pictures.

JANUARY

APRIL - New Zealand road signs

MAY - New Zealand 

JUNE - still New Zealand

JULY - DC / Virginia in September

AUGUST - Pittsburgh October

Pittsburgh

OCTOBER - NYC

Don't forget the Stampin' Up Year End Sale.  You can shop by hitting "ORDER ONLINE" at the top of this post.  Please use my Hostess Code when ordering - N4KDHCAU

MDS Monday 95

Time for my MDS Monday challenge.  This is my last week as guest designer for MDS Monday.  But you can believe I will continue to submit scrapbook designs for MDS Monday on my own.

This time I used a picture taken when we were in London several years ago.  It was so cool to see the Changing of the Guard up close and in person!!

Here is the sketch we were to use:



Make sure to check out the other designs submitted by the crew at MDS Monday.

Off to finish up my Christmas shopping!!

Paper Craft Crew Challenge

Here is the card I made for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge this week.  (Yay!  I remembered to submit it AND to blog about it!!)

Here is the sketch:

Check out the other cards made by the Design Team HERE.

Holiday Lodge MDS Christmas Card

I spent a lot of time last week working on My Digital Studio finishing up some projects.  I have made calendars (several different ones), tags, journals, cards, etc.  This time of year is when MDS is a life saver for me.  I designed all my pages for MDS Monday so I won't have to worry about that the next couple of weeks.  I even made the cards for the rest of the month for Paper Craft Crew's blog.  I made my card last week but forgot to put it on the site!  Here is last week's card - better late than never!:

I love using the traditional red and green colors.  The house is a retired stamp called Holiday Lodge. It really is a pretty one.

Christmas Cats - MDS Monday

I have been super busy as I am sure everyone is at this time of year.  Last week I went to 4 parties where I had to take some kind of food and gift.  By Friday, I was worn out.  Maybe if I didn't wait till the last minute, this wouldn't happen every year, but where is the fun in that??!!  On top of it all, my sciatica has been acting up on top of really tight ham strings in my leg.  So, I scheduled time for a massage in the middle of all the craziness.  It really helped.  Now I continue on with finishing the shopping, wrapping, Christmas cards, ....... the list goes on and on, doesn't it?

This time of year is when My Digital Studio saves my butt!  Here is the page I designed for the MDS Monday Challenge as the Guest Designer this month.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team pages HERE..

These pictures were taken last year at Christmas.  When we were at Ashley's, we could not keep her cat, Bogart, out of the Christmas tree.  We ended up having to throw the tree (artificial) away after Christmas because he had broken so many of the branches.  Sonny and I were dreading going through that with him at our house this year.  Ashley helped us put the tree up when she was here at Thanksgiving (as well as decorate my house!!).  Bogart tried to climb it a couple of times while we were decorating but after that, he left it alone.  We were really surprised.  Well, guess we bragged on him a little too much.  A couple of nights ago while Sonny and I were watching TV, the tree started shaking.  Yep, Bogart decided to try to shimmy up it.  We took turns yelling at him and pulling him out of the tree.  So far, he has only tried to climb the tree that one night.  Not sure what is going to happen next week when we leave the two cats alone for a few days while we go out of town.  Maybe the tree will not tempt them if the lights are not on!!  (Who am I kidding??)

Here is a second page I made showing the two cats this year.  The picture at the bottom of both cats - they are in my lap.  They both love that blanket I throw over me while watching tv.  Sammie always sits in my lap at night.  Well, Bogart has to find his spot too.  Sammie tolerates him for a short while; then she hops down and gives Bogart space.  They are too funny! (You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

MDS Monday Double Page

I am so honored to have been asked to be a Guest Designer on the MDS Monday blog design team for the month of December.  This is my first post in that capacity.  Each Monday this month when the new challenge sketch is posted, you will see my design idea for the challenge along with those of the deign team members.  Be sure to click on the link above each week to see the challenge designs and what all the team members have created.  You can join in with your own design if you like.  If you don't have My Digital Studio (MDS) yet, you can download the free trial.  I would love to help you get started!!

 I discovered MDS Monday several months ago, and I think I have only missed one or two weeks following along with the challenge and submitting my MDS layout.  This week's challenge is for a double page spread.  I decided to use pictures from my recent New York trip - specifically, our Culinary Tour that I shared with you here.

Merry Christmas - MDS Style!

Each month, as well as having great 3D projects, Craft Project Central has a card sketch challenge.  You know, I love sketch challenges!  This month's card sketch is below and here is my card I created using My Digital Studio.

My card uses elements from the Hello December Project Life download!!

For every ten cards submitted, they pick one winner of a free month subscription on Craft Project Central! The winner(s) will get to select the month of their choice!  *If the project designers submit a card for your inspiration, they won’t be in the winner random-selection pool, but their cards will count towards the “for every 10 cards submitted winner total”.

For more information, go to Craft Project Central HERE.

Holiday Home MDS style!

The sketch for Paper Craft Crew this week is very similar to one we did a couple of weeks ago.  In fact, I emailed the gal in charge to ask if it was a repeat!  I don't think she had realized that she had put the two sketches so close together.  I decided to make this week's card a Halloween card.  It's funny - when I first looked at the Holiday Catalog, the stamp set with the houses, Holiday Home, was not on my list at all.  But after seeing all the cute cards that everyone is making with this set, I had to get it.  Not only did I order it as a Clear Stamp, but I also ordered the digital stamp too!  Here is the digital card I made for the challenge:

I have been working on my calendars for 2015 and I also used this set for October.  This is my favorite so far!  I followed a tutorial on-line and learned a lot of new tricks for this page.  (An old dog can learn new tricks!)

I will be offering my calendars for sale.  They are $20 which includes the wooden holder for $10 for refills.  The calendars are 6x6.

MDS Vintage

The challenge this week on MDS Monday is to use a vintage photo or just create a vintage page.  This is one of my favorite pictures of my Mom.  She looks so cute!  I'm guessing she was about two years old??  Well, she celebrated her 86th birthday this past July so I guess this qualifies for vintage!  I hope this page will make her smile today.  Today marks 41 years since Daddy died and I know she will be remembering that day.

I used so many overlays on this page that it was really slowing down the program.  I kept saving it - I was afraid I would lock it up and have to start all over.  I've had to do that before so I try to remember to save often.

Make sure you visit the MDS Monday blog - there are some great vintage pictures there!

Here are the elements I used to create this page.

Background
     Designer Series Paper designer series paper\Downtown Grunge - 2

Embellishments
    Paper Doilies\Paper Doilies - pool party (re-colored) Color = SOFT SUEDE
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 crumb cake
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 crumb cake
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 crumb cake
    _Designer Kits\Fan Fair - embellishments\Fan Fair - stitching black circle 2 (re-colored) Color = CHOCOLATE CHIP

Stamps
    _Designer Kits\Downtown Grunge\Downtown Grunge - script, Color = 0,0,0
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Vintage Overlays\Vintage Overlays - texture 4
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Vintage Overlays\Vintage Overlays - texture 3
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Vintage Overlays\Vintage Overlays - texture 12
    Torn Edges\Torn Edges - flower edge
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Vintage Overlays\Vintage Overlays - texture 12
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Vintage Overlays\Vintage Overlays - texture 13
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Vintage Overlays\Vintage Overlays - texture 4
    Everyday Adventure Project Life\Everyday Adventure Project Life - oval frame
    _Designer Kits\Seriously Teen Kit\Seriously Teen Kit - grunge 4, Color = 73,56,38
    _OVERLAY STAMPS\Thoughtful Overlays\Thoughtful Overlays - memories,
    Always\Always - sentiment 2
    _HOLIDAYS\Holiday Blitz\Holiday Blitz - mom
    Always\Always - sentiment 2
    Always\Always - sentiment 2

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch

Freeform Text on Path for MDS Monday

My creation for MDS Monday is a page from my visit with Jeff, Darcie and Jayce last December.  I got some great action shots of Jayce eventually.  The challenge this week was to use the Freeform Tool on the text around the pictures.

Jayce had fun hiding from me whenever I got my camera focused!

My MDS page uses:

Background
     Designer Series Paper Storytime  16

Embellishments
   Designer Kits\Finest Simplicity - embellishments\Finest Simplicity - frame 2

Stamps
    OVERLAY STAMPS\Epic Overlays\Epic Overlays - lines, (along edges of project)
    Designer Kits\Days to Remember - family
    Designer Kits\Family Fun Photobook - fun 4
    OVERLAY STAMPS\Epic Overlays\Epic Overlays - best ever, 

I am going to get this page in on time this week!  Last week I designed my page but forgot to post it!!  I didn't realize it until I checked the MDS Monday blog post on Monday.

We are having a bit of FALL weather here and I love it!  Tuesday I don't know if it even got up to 60 degrees!  And today it has been misty all day and in the lower 60s - a good day for a bowl of chilli. Yesterday I had a dentist appointment in the morning and didn't check the weather before getting dressed.  I put my capris on with a 3/4 length sleeve .... my legs were a little chilly!!  

I also went to Davidson College yesterday for another testing session.  I finally FINISHED the Brain Games I was having to do at home.  I was so glad!  I was doing 4-5 of the games a week and each one took an hour of my time.  That's a lot of time I was losing!!  And they were getting harder and harder.  I will go back to Davidson in 8-10 weeks for my final testing session.  So far, I have gotten $100 for it but believe me, it is worth every penny!!

I Missed the Deadline!

Last week I did a scrapbook page for the MDS Monday challenge BUT I forgot to post it to their blog!!  Oh well - guess I didn't stand a chance of winning, huh?  Anyway, here is the MDS page I made.  The challenge was to use white, vanilla or ivory as the main color.  I thought this picture from our Alaska trip fit the bill.  I used the photo of the snowy Mount McKinley as my background.

As promised, here are a few pictures from the Steeler - Panther game that we attended on Sunday night.  It was really hot - still in the 80s when we left the game about midnight.  I had been hoping for some fall weather and had thrown in my sweatshirt thinking I would need it later in the evening but ended up not even carrying it in the stadium.  The Steelers beat the Panthers pretty handily - it was the first loss of the season for the Panthers so I was not so sure about that win in advance.

We went to the Olde Meck Brewery in Charlotte before the game for dinner.

As usual, Sonny made a few Steeler friends!

Great seats

The Panthers started leaving during the 3rd quarter!!  

Our Selfie!

Here are this week's Weekly Deals - good through next Monday.