Another scorcher...

Whew - it's going to be another scorcher day here in Chicagoland. Forecasting in the mid 90's with heat index around 115 degrees. Is 'scorcher' really a word?! Well, I think I'm getting the message across - hot, hot, hot! But today I am going to spend a few hours with my goddaughter Krista at her pool! So alot of fun in the sun but staying cool at the same time. This is how I like to spend a day off from work. And of course, making cards :)
Speaking of, another birthday card - this one is going to go to a co-worker. I have 3 July birthdays to celebrate at work and then all the August birthdays in my family are next!

I just received a package from Blue Moon Scrapbooking where I had ordered some Melissa Frances goodies and the cupcake resin was one of them. I couldn't wait to use it! I'm not quite sure how I feel about this card. It's kind of plain - not sure what else it needs?
The papers are also from Melissa Frances. The die cut doily is from PTI, lace trim from Michaels Craft Store and rose trim from Maya Road.
That's it from me for today. I'm off to pack my tote with sunscreen, water, sunglasses and a good book!
Enjoy your day -
Nancy

Play games!

...baseball games, early 4th of July parties, lazy, crazy days of summer. I am really enjoying my weekends just being lazy, putzing around my few flower beds, chasing the rabbits out of my yard! Lots of pregnant mama rabbits wanting to dig their holes in my yard - ugh!
I have a birthday card to share with you today. I just bought the October Afternoon Sidewalk paper pack along with some embellies that go with that line. I couldn't wait to get creative so this is what I came up with:

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I am on my way out the door to start celebrating July 4th!

Nancy

another birthday...

Happy Sunday! Another warm day here in the midwest. I'm hoping the rain they are forecasting comes soon. My grass looks like straw. I've been watering every other day but it's just not enough.

My son's girlfriend and my niece are both celebrating birthdays this Tuesday. So I'm taking advantage of being in the air conditioning and making birthday cards - a lot of birthday cards. Isn't it kind of funny that when your kids know you make your own greeting cards, how they stop buying cards at the local drugstore and ask for a hand-made card! Of course I enjoy making a card for them to give.

All supplies are Melissa Frances except the white flowers, leaves and doily. I stitched around all 4 sides, adhered the die cut to the doily to the pattern paper. Punched out leaves from green card stock and adhered those behind the flowers. Added the greenery and it was done. Still have more to make so I better get cuttin' as they say!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Nancy

Card Patterns - Sketch 169

Today I am popping in to share a card I made back in February of this year that fits this week's sketch at Card Patterns. Lucky me!! Here is the sketch:

And here is the card I made and posted back in February. I made this card for my great-niece's birthday.

I'm off to post my card at Card Patterns. Enjoy this very hot Saturday - going to be in the 90's here in Chicagoland - stay cool!

Nancy

lost my mojo

Happy saturday! And what a beautiful day here in Chicagoland it will be. Good day for a baseball game too! My sweet little nephews play baseball on the same team so that helps not having to be in 2 places at the same time.

As my post is titled 'lost my mojo', I need help getting it back! Maybe it's the nice weather and my flower beds are calling out my name? Or maybe it is the 3 library books stacked up on my night stand that I have been slowly trying to read? And the best excuse...catching up on all the TV programs I missed since I don't have a DVR! Who needs a DVR when you have On Demand?!

I have spent the last few hours this beautiful morning going through all my favorite blogs and catching up on all the posts. Such amazing craftiness and talent! I have to say that I have about 35 favorite sites I try to visit every day but I just don't have the time anymore. I made time today, hoping to get some inspiration! My top 5 bloggers I make sure to visit are Melissa Frances, Melissa Phillips, Tammy Roberts, Cherry Nelson, and Beatriz Jennings. Love, love, love their shabby chic creations! Maybe a visit to my local scrapbooking store might help too?

Then I started to clean off my craft table by organizing all the supplies I had last used - that was months ago! - and found a card I had scraplifted from a site I had visited some time ago, using the new Melissa Frances papers and die cuts from the C'est la Vie line. Sorry, I don't know whose blog I found this on - :(

I added the chipboard heart after painting it cream, distressing the edges and adding glitter and a pink pearl to it! Hmm, I have a wedding next weekend to attend, this card would be perfect to give to the bride and groom!
Well, maybe after a trip to a craft store later will help me get going here and put to use all the lovely supplies I have left out on my craft table! Hopefully next time I blog, it won't be so long and whiny and I'll have a card or two to show you!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)
Nancy

Happy Mothers Day

I'm popping in to wish all my lady friends and family a Happy Mothers Day today. My mother passed away 11 years ago this September but not a day goes by without thinking of her. The below picture was taken of her as a teenager at a beach in Chicagoland area. What a beauty! Happy Mothers Day, Mom. You are missed!

My 3 day cruise to the Bahamas has come and gone. What an experience! Of course I packed way too much - spent the days in a bathing suit and only changed into shorts and a T shirt in the evenings. I like the fact that dining is all free style so making a reservation and keeping it is not necessary!

I highly recommend cruising on Norwegian cruise line - very friendly and accommodating. Our ship was the Norwegian Sky. It held 900 crew members and 2,000 passengers.

The first stop was Norwegion's private island. Here is where we did some kayaking in the morning. Stopped for lunch and then we were taken out on a boat and I parasailed for the first time! It is amazing how quiet it is up there once you are over the initial fear! I'm not sure if I would do this again!

Our next stop was the island of Nassau. We signed up to do the Dolphin encounter at Blue Lagoon.

The dolphin is an amazing mammel. We shared time with Andy, the dolphin.

 

I got to feed him, dance with him, kiss him, rub his back and belly, feel his teeth, and so many other activities!  Clifton, the newest member of the family, is a 6 month old dolphin who is just starting his training and was very jealous of the attention Andy was getting. So we actually had to step back and watch Wendy, the trainer enforce some "obedience" training between the two dolphins. I have many more pictures but don't want to bore you with them!

Well folks - thanks for popping in and allowing me to catch you all up with my travels! Hopefully I will be back into the swing of things and have some cards to share with you soon.
Happy Mothers Day!
Nancy

Happy Saturday! Looks like I've missed alot while in Boston these past few days. Blogger got a new look, huh? Now I have to start all over learning this new layout for blogger! Just when I was getting use to the old one - lol!
My Boston trip was fun - part pleasure, part business.
The below picture was taken at the Union Oyster House which is the oldest resturant in all of America!
The food (I ordered the salmon) was delicious!

Look at the size of this lobster my friend ordered!

And of course we had to visit the actual Cheers bar where the sitcom "Cheers" was filmed.

We also took the trolley tour but I wasn't able to take pictures as it was raining and windy and very dreary looking. But a very historical and fact-based tour it was!
While in Boston, I received a text from my sister that my nephew/godson Aiden lost his first tooth! He was just so thrilled about it that he asked my sister to take a picture of him without his tooth and text it to me!

In addition to him losing his first tooth, he also brought home his first puppy! All little boys need to grow up with their own little puppy, right?  Everyone, meet Lola!

She is all german shephard - as Aiden says - "sherman leopard"! She is 6 or 7 weeks old and about 20 lbs right now. The size of her paws tell me she is going to be a big girl! Well, that is it for me - no new cards to post. I am still unpacking from Boston and repacking for my cruise which is in 6 days! Yahoo! Heading out now to Aiden's first baseball game of the season...and it's raining. Wonder if it will be cancelled?
Enjoy your weekend!
Nancy