Family & Friends: Mateo Graduated!

He did it!  Mateo's a high school graduate!

We had a fun filled last few days with family & friends in town to help celebrate Mateo's high school graduation.  We are so proud of this guy.  He finished high school as one of the 21 Valedictorians in his class.  Wow, so impressive!  

On Thursday night we went to Senior Spotlight, an awards night for select Seniors.  Mateo received his medals for Valedictorian, Honors and cords for PCC Dual Credit.  It was so fun to watch all the kids receiving recognition for all of their hard work. 

Medals & cords all ready to be worn to Graduation.

Friday for the Seniors was a day of fun.  They had an awards assembly, graduation practice with a pizza party and then the Seniors loaded onto buses and went and visited their old elementary schools.  We have four different elementary schools in town.  

I got teary eyed (still do) at the thought of them returning to the place they began their school careers.  Mateo said it was pretty cool.  He got to see former teachers (who also shed a tear, seeing "their babies" all grown up).  I was able to see a couple photos from the day.

Saturday was Graduation Day.  Here are the six of us (Mateo's fan club, lol) in the stands, waiting for the Seniors to arrive.

(Nice job with the selfie, Granny)

I wish I could post videos on here.  It was really cool to see all of the Seniors enter the gym.  The Valedictorians got to enter first, so Mateo was easy to spot.  

Not my photo, just a nice group shot of all the graduates.

Some speeches were inspiring and some were funny.  I definitely teared up a few times.  The Valedictorians all took turns reading the names of the graduates as they came down the stage and received their diplomas, so we got to see Mateo up at the podium as well.

The traditional throwing of the hats once they announced they had graduated.

We got to grab a few photos outside with the grad before heading to his party.  

Mateo with Papa & Nona

Mateo with Granny

Mateo and his proud dad, Chico

Rose took a photo of me taking my traditional selfie.

The selfie.  :)

Mateo liked this photo of Jaxon not wanting to take a photo with him.  Typical...

Mateo standing in front of the Valedictorian wall.  They all get their photos taken for the wall.

Mateo's "Honors" Diploma.  Pretty fancy.

It was a great day.  So many people came to celebrate with Mateo at his graduation party that afternoon too.  I'll have to do another post just for that.

If you've made it this far in the post, thank you for sticking around.  I'll be back soon with more cards.

Ciao for now!

Thanks a Bushel - June Stamp of the Month

Oh my gosh, this is the most excited I've been in a long time about a Stamp of the Month.  Introducing the June stamp of the month, "A Bushel & A Peck".  I am in love with this little girl!

For this card I used the new "Fresh Air" paper pack in the newest Seasonal Expressions catalog.  I cut some banners from a few different pattered papers for a fun feature in the top corner.  I stamped, colored and cut out a single apple and popped it up on a bow made from two strands of the new "New England Ivy Burlap Ribbon".  

The girl and apples were all colored with our Shin Han Markers.  Colors I used were: Barely Beige, Bronze, Carmine, Clay, Sap Green & Turquoise Blue.  I did a tiny bit of paper piecing on the basket to make it look like it had more texture.

Here's a look at the complete "A Bushel & A Peck" stamp set.

Isn't that a fun set?  Once I get through my son's high school graduation tomorrow I want to play with it some more.  Thanks a bushel for stopping by!  ;)

Stitched Circle Happy Birthday card

Here's one last "Gimme Some Sugar" card.  This one, again, was inspired by fellow consultant Anna Jarnagin.  I tell you, I'm very drawn to her cards.  You can see her card HERE on Pinterest.

This card pretty much lets the paper be the star of the show.  Just added a cute stitched circle and one of my favorite Happy Birthday sentiments. The "Happy Birthday" stamp can be found in the Annual Inspirations Catalog until 7/31/18.  It's a nice size for tags too.  That Bashful Glitter Paper is another favorite of mine.  Bashful is Close to My Heart's color of the year in the Annual Inspirations Catalog.

Thanks again for stopping by.  Be sure to come back tomorrow to see the new June Stamp of the Month, "A Bushel & A Peck".  It's adorable.

Sending Smiles - Gimme Some Sugar papers & stamps

Here's another card using the "Gimme Some Sugar" papers and the "Gimme Some Sugar - Scrapbooking" stamp set (both now retired).  Like my last post, I saw a card done by a fellow consultant, this time Anna Jarnagin.  I always love Anna's cards, so I took her layout and changed it up just a bit and voila, here's my card.  You can see Anna's card HERE on Pinterest.

Here's a close up to show how the flowers are cut out and popped up.  I am a big fan of dimension for my cards.  I also added that oh so necessary bling.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope to see you here again soon.

Thanks card with cut out flowers

Hi everyone!  Here's a fun card that I totally CASE'd from fellow consultant, Chris Lothian.  When I see a card that I like and it inspires me, I will copy it.  Why reinvent the wheel, right?  You can see Chris' card HERE on Pinterest.

I used her design and just changed the sentiment to fit my needs.  I also used a ribbon from the Adventure Ribbon Pack.  I just love those polka dots.

I liked that Chris took advantage of the patterned papers and cut out the flowers.  Those are not stamped, cool right?  I've done that in the past with a different paper but kind of forgot about it.  And of course, I like a little bling, so there are a few sparkles added.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Mother's Day box card

Hello.  Here is a box card I made in one of my card workshops, for Mother's Day. 

This uses two different stamp sets from the current Close to My Heart Annual Catalog.  I used "Thoughtful Bird" and "For You Darling".  Both sets are available with matching Thin Cuts as well, here & here.  The paper used is the now retired Gimme Some Sugar, but you can use any papers and stamp your images to match.

The card folds to a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card size and fits easily into an envelope.

I matched the ink colors to those in the paper pack: Bashful, Blossom, Charcoal, Tangerine & Juniper.

Here's a closer look at the two stamp sets:

Thoughtful Bird - 

For You Darling - 

Thanks for stopping by!

Free Cake! I Mean, Happy Birthday.

Hello.  Here's a fun card I made using the now retired "Gimme Some Sugar" papers and the "Free Cake" mini stamp set.

I cut out and popped up the image of the cake to give it some dimension.  I thought the baking theme of the papers was pretty cute with this little stamp.

I always try to pin my cards to my "My Artwork" board on Pinterest.  I'd love for you to follow my page if you're so inclined.  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday - Watercolor Butterflies

Here's one last card (for now, he he) using the now retired Chelsea Gardens papers and Chelsea Gardens - Cardmaking stamp set. 

It had been a really long time since I'd used the Close to My Heart watercolor pencils.  I forgot how much I like using them.  They blend so nicely with the Water Brush.  And in case you're wondering, the larger butterfly is the same one I embossed a few posts back (HERE).

Other items used were the "Happy Birthday" mini stamp set, Thin Cuts - Basic Circles and Bitty Sparkles.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day!

Cherish the Good Thymes - Chelsea Gardens Diagonal Double Pocket Card

Surprise surprise, it's another Chelsea Gardens card.  This is a fun card to make when you have pretty, double sided patterned papers.  It's called a Diagonal Double Pocket Card.  

I've made several of these in the past and I like to use THIS tutorial from the Splitcoast Stampers website.  For this card I only used one pocket.  I suggested to my class attendees that they might put a flower seed packet in the other pocket.  Wouldn't that be fun to receive?

I used the now retired January Stamp of the Month "Bloom & Grow" and "Chelsea Gardens - Cardmaking" stamp sets. I colored the flowers and leaves with my Shin Han markers.  I just love the colors in the paper pack.

I hope you liked this card.  As always, thank you for stopping by.

Diagonal Stripe "Thanks" card with Chelsea Gardens

Here's another card made using the now retired Chelsea Gardens paper.  The floral paper on this card is really the star of the show.  It's so very pretty all on its own.  I told you I really liked this paper.  
*Sorry about the bad lighting on my photo.

This card was inspired by the wonderfully talented, fellow consultant Lisa Stenz.  You can see her card HERE.  

This is the same stamp I used on the card I posted yesterday, the one with polka dots and pink flowers.  No Rock 'n Roll technique this time.  I stamped the flowers just like normal using Juniper and Glacier inks.  I fussy cut the flowers and leaves, layered them up, added some sparkles and voila, easy peasy.  

Thank you for stopping by!