~Sweet Water Babies~

Happy Saturday!!!! This is going to be a super quick post as we have more celebrating to do:)  Our son, Zachary, graduated from high school last night, and we are having a few of his friends over this afternoon to continue last night's festivities. My husband and I still cannot believe our BABY boy is now all grown up!!! Where does the time go?!?! I still remember bringing him home from the hospital over 18 years ago as if it happened yesterday...not to mention his first day of kindergarten. You should have seen us boohooing as he walked across the stage, but shhhhhhh...don't let my DH know I shared that with you;)

Today's card features the ADORABLE stamp "Water Babies" form the recently released "Natural Beauty Collection" by the super talented Carmen Medlin for SCACD Stamp Co.  I absolutely adore this precious image!!! Just look at the darling faces on both the sweet mermaid and the cuddly sea lion!!! Who could resist such sweetness? Not me!! I tell ya...I could just reach in and hug those cuties:) Couldn't you?

Well, I am going to head on outta here!! I hope your weekend is filled with happiness and smiles!!! Thank you bunches for dropping by!!!

Blessings & Hugs!!!

Carolyn

I am also playing along with the following incredible challenges:

• Deep Ocean Challenge - Anything Goes + Optional Ocean Image
• Cupcake Craft - Things with Tails
• Kaboodle Doodles - Mystical Creatures
• Quirky Crafts - Under the Sea
  

Card Supplies:
Stamp: Water Babies by Carmen Medlin for SCACD; Card stock: Bazzill and Stampin' Up!; Patterned paper: Tim Holtz; Miscellaneous goodies:  Prismacolor markers, Viva Decor Pearl Pen (Ice White), Maya Mist (Iridescent Pearl), DecoArt Ultra Fine Glitter Paint (Ice Crystal), Spellbinder's - Lacy Squares, Offray grosgrain ribbon, Prima flowers, pearl spray from Hobby Lobby's bridal department

Gathering Love

Good morning!!! I hope your week has been fabulous!!! And to think, today is Friday!!! Yayyyyyy!!!! Can you believe we are already into June?!?! Normally, I fuss at how quickly time seems to pass these days...but not right now. Why, you ask? Well, if all things go as planned, Jonathon will be leaving Iraq later this month and will be heading to his home in Hawaii:) I'm sure with his MOS, he will find himself sent back to the desert again...but for now...it is the countdown to coming back to the US of A:):) Then...sometime the end of June to the first part of July, he and his wonderful wife will be here in NC for a few weeks!! And for more good news, our baby boy, Zachary, will be graduating on June 10th!!! I still cannot believe my little boys are all grown up!! Yes, I am one proud and very HAPPY momma!!!! God has truly blessed us:):)

Okay, now on to today's card:) Yes...it is VERY bright!! Did you have to reach for your sunglasses? Sorry you are now seeing "blue dots", but I was feeling bright and cheerful when I was creating this card;)

This lovely image is from the recently released "Natural Beauty Collection" by Carmen Medlin for SCACD and is called ♡"Gathering Love"♡. Isn't she beautiful? She is colored with Prismacolor markers and paired with a lovely paper from the "Madeline" 6 x 6 paper pad by Prima. As for the layout, I chose to keep it very simple so this gorgeous image would take center stage and shine:) I also wanted to mention, if you purchase the entire Natural Beauty Collection (all 7 stamps) you will receive a FREE pack of Prima Tulle Roses (color will be selected by Susana). Due to the popularity of this gorgeous collection, this special has been extended and will be in effect until June 5, 2011. Free gift only available at SCACD.

I received a great deal of inspiration from the following FABULOUS challenges:

• By the Cute & Girly Challenges - In the Garden
• Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration (bright and cheerful)
• Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge - Here Comes Summer
• Diva's By Design - Florals
• A Spoonfull of Sugar - Flower Power
• Stamp with Fun - In the Garden
• Creations by Gill M - Pink, Green with Flowers

Well, I am off to do my household chores, then head on out to do some yard work....and maybe get a bit of a tan:) I hope your Friday is AMAZING and your weekend is loaded down with love and laughter!!! Thank you for dropping by:)

Blessings and Happy Hugs!!!

Carolyn

Card Supplies:

Stamp: Gathering Love by Carmen Medlin for SCACD; Card stock: Papertrey Ink; Patterned paper: Madeline by Prima; Miscellaneous goodies: Prismacolor markers, Copic Spica Atyou glitter pens, DecoArt Glamour Dust Ultra Fine Glitter Paint (Crystal Ice), Spellbinder's - Floral Doily Motifs, Prima flower, Stampin Up Bashful Blue ink and sponge for background, pearl spray from Hobby Lobby (bridal department), eyelet lace and thread from stash.

Spread Your Wings and Fly!!!

Good morning:) Sure hope your week has been FABULOUS!!!! My card for today was inspired by this week's Creative Inspirations Paint Challenge...it's all about Butterflies!! AND, I love anything butterfly themed:) I don't know why, but they always make me smile...like daisies and sunflowers:) Don't you just love those wonderful gifts from God that touch your heart and bring joy into your day?

Recently, I received some beautiful Prima butterflies from the Farfalla Collection...which by the way are on SALE at SCACD (:currently 25% off the regular price:)...wish I would have picked up a few of the others cuz they are WONDERFUL!!! All I can say is... if you think they are something you might be interested in...I would get my order in soon because once they're gone...they're gone! I am SO hoping to get the ones that didn't make their way into my shopping cart...but I just placed an order and have to wait a bit...don't want DH snooping around the ol' craft room...KWIM?;) I painted the butterfly's body with Ivory CI Paint and its wings with Fairy Dust CI Paint...can you see all the lovely shimmer it added? It also made the original colors *pop* a bit more:) I also used the Ivory CI Paint on the white blossoms. Man, I love these paints!!!!

Did you notice the doily? Can you believe it was originally a plain, white doily? Don't get me wrong...I love my white doilies, but every now and then...I wish they were a different color to better match my card. So, I painted on a coat of Beige CI Paint to help it match the colors I selected...and I must say, I really like how it turned out:) I also used this paint to "ink" around the edges of my patterned paper and card stock. I tell ya...these paints are a paper crafter's dream!!!

I also busted out my new Sew Easy on this card...and I love it!!!! Inititally, I was a bit hesitant about purchasing it...because I have the Cutter Bee Bug. It is supposed to do the same thing (minus the interchanging tool heads), but it only works when used on lighter weight card stock/ papers. Since my sewing machine doesn't really like me...and I love all the sewing I see on projects...I decided to bite the bullet and give the Sew Easy a go...AND I am SO HAPPY I DID:) The piercers in the tool heads are longer and have a pointier point than the Cutter Bee Bug, which makes them go through your paper like a hot knife in butter. Now, I want to get my hands on the new attachment heads Susana has added to the store!!! Woo Hoo...I can start sewing on my projects much more often:)

Here is the card's interior. I opted to keep it VERY simple. Can you see the sparkle? It was created with Maya Mists and CI Paints:) I know you have already heard me say this, but I don't know what I did before Susana introduced me to Creative Inspiration Paints!

I am also playing along in the following inspirational challenges:

• Creative Craft Challenges - Distressed/Vintage
• Cupcake Craft Challenges - In the Garden
• Get Hippity with Ippity - Flowers
• Happileigh Scrappin Challenge - Stitching
• Make It Monday - Anything Goes
• Creative Cowgirls Challenge - Anything Goes
• Cupcake Inspirations - Inspiration photo
• Dream Valley Challenges - Dig Out the Old to Use with the New (there is a combo of both old and new goodies in this card)

Okay...have you fallen asleep at the keyboard from this mega long post? Sorry for blabbing away! I hope your Wednesday is filled with blessings and all things beautiful:) And...don't forget to check out my SCACD sneak peek post for today! Today marks Day #4...only a couple days away from Friday's Carmen Medlin "Natural Beauty Collection" for SCACD Blog Hop:) I am SO excited!!! The chance to win the awesome blog candy that coincides with this release ends tomorrow...if you want to get the deets, check out my sneak peek post HERE. Thank you for stopping by!!!!

HAPPY HUGS!!!

Carolyn

Card ingredients:
Stamps: Prima Clear Stamps "Recital" and Verve (sentiment); Card stock: Papertrey Ink; Patterned paper: Tim Holtz Idea-ology "Vintage Shabby; Miscellaneous: Creative Inspiration Paints (Ivory, Beige, Fairy Dust), Prima Butterflies "Farfalla" (currently 25% off at SCACD), Sew Easy (zig-zag), Maya Mist (iridescent pearl, latte metallic), Spellbinder's (Fleur De Lis Motifs, Flourish Accents), Tim Holtz Distress Inks (vintage photo), Prima E Line Flowers (#300388, #300159), Prima Innoscence Collection (#540333), EK Success corner punch, Paper Studio Pearls, DMC floss and paper doily from stash