Maddie's Birthday

On July 4 Maddie will celebrate her 12th birthday. Time is going so fast. I have often made her birthday card around the 4th of July theme. I wanted this year's card to be different.

So--- I made a Dutch Fold card. So cool and easy too. Maddie loves animals. I don't have many animal stamps so I decided to use dies that coordinate with the SU set "Best Birds". The card base is Crisp Cantaloupe card stock. Found a piece of the designer paper in the same color. The bottom squares are the reverse of the top piece. And black became my accent color.

I found two different instructions for making this card. I chose to use this set of instructions--Beyond Beaches and Blessings. Lynn did a great job in explaining how to make the card base for this fold.

Stephen Graduates

On June 15, our grandson, Stephen, graduated from Jones College Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois. He finished high school well. This summer he is a life guard at one of the beaches along Lake Michigan there in Chicago. His plans are to go to Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama. He reports on August 8. We are proud of what Stephen has accomplished and will be praying for him as he begins this new season of his life. This picture was taken in August of 2016. I haven't been too good at taking pictures the last few times we have been together.

This is the graduation card that I made for him. It is a full sheet of Brocade Blue SU card stock folded in half making the card 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". I think most stamps are made for the smaller A2 size card so it becomes a challenge to make a focal image that looks appropriate on the larger card. 

My inspiration -- Stephen's school colors were blue and white, and the school mascot was "The Eagles". Earlier this week as I was thinking about making his card, the verse of Isaiah 40:31 came to mind. As I looked at some cards on the blog  of "Word Art Wesdnesday", I started to come up with some ideas. I made the inside left panel first, then the front. After the card was together, I had to work at finishing the inside right panel. Finally! it is finished and ready to be mailed.

. . .those who hope in the

LORD will renew their

strength. They will soar

on wings like eagles;

they will run and not

grow weary, they will

walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

July 3, 2017 

I feel honored that this card was chosen as one of the "Favorites for the week ending July 2" at SplitcoasterStampers.

Grandson's Birthday

February 21, our grandson, Alex, turned 21. I ask myself, "Where has the time gone?" It doesn't seem that many years ago that we were rejoicing over his birth. Even now at 21, he still brings joy, and laughter, to our lives.

There is now a very special person in his life, Danielle. They love the Lord and want to serve him with their lives.

 Because we where hoping to see him in person, I decided to hold his birthday card until we were able to do that. On our way home from Tennessee last Saturday night, March 11, we were able to stop in Florence, Kentucky and meet the grandkids for supper at the Cracker Barrel restaurant.  We had such a good time visiting with everyone, and I was able to give Alex his birthday card "in person".

I was a very simple card. I was pleased with the way it turned out.

Another Birthday

I am not sure where the month has gone. There has been so much going on and so little time to organize my thoughts.

June 25, 2001-- my second granddaughter was born. Her name--Chloe Taylor Beans. I remember seeing her for the first time.

Time marches on and this year she turned 15. This picture was taken last Christmas, 2015. Chloe has since had her hair styled, but I do not have a more recent photo.

While visiting a fabric store in Lansing, I saw this really cute little purse. I thought that it would be something that I could make for my two granddaughters in Kentucky for their birthdays. I looked at the one in the store. I looked at the pattern; I looked at the price tag. It was marked $10.00. I looked at the purse again and thought "I can do that: I don't need a pattern." Well, after three tries, I finally made something that I was happy with. It would have been easier to have bought the pattern but not as challenging. I hope she likes it.

Before I could get her package mailed, I needed to finish her card. It was very simple. I tried to use some of the same colors that was in the purse. I let the designers series paper be the focal image.

Chloe--I love you.

Grandma

This is Maddie--my youngest granddaughter

Maddie's birthday is July 4. I was planning on doing a birthday card in red, white and blue. I thought that would be cool since her birthday was on the 4th. Well, it is amazing how fast things can change. For her purse she chose an animal print. (Not at all what I would have chosen for her.) I think she had fun helping me make her purse. She ran the sewing machine while I guided the fabric under the needle.

There was enough fabric left over to make a placemat for her also. Now for the card. I saw the Stampin' Up set called "Zoo Review". I thought that these stamps would be perfect. BUT--I did not have the stamp set. I called a friend. She had the set and was willing to let me borrow it. The set was perfect for what I needed!

 

 

 

Traveling

It has been almost two months since my last post. Time has a way of slipping by so quickly. My husband and I went to Tullahoma, Tennessee -- first for my 50 year high school class reunion on May 24 and 25. I had a great time getting reacquainted with many of my classmates and friends. Then on May 26, we headed for the Smoky Mountains with my brother and sister-in-law. On Monday, we continued our travels to Asheville, North Carolina where we visited the Biltmore Estate. What a grand place!!! Thursday we headed back to Tullahoma and had a cousin's reunion on June 1. Tuesday, June 4 we began our journey to Chicago for our grandson's 8th grade graduation on June 6. We spent a few days at home (in Jackson, Michigan) before heading to Hebron, Kentucky on June 13 to stay with our grandkids there while their dad and stepmom when to California for Janet's daughter's college graduation. Then it was back home on June 18.

From Newfound Gap, on the Tennessee--North Carolina border

 

On top of Clingmans Dome-highest point in the Smokies

 

 

Dale and Jody, my brother and sister-in-law

 



 Rose garden at the Biltmore Estate