2 Sketches 4 You (Kazan Sketch #17 & Peet's Bonus Sketch)

First, I had two little blessings today. I found a parking spot at the gym very easily tonight, AND it was right across from the front door! Lately, parking has been a real bugger. I know, the part about going to the gym and having a parking spot near the front door is a bit like ordering a DIET soda with the baker's dozen donuts! LOL!

Then, just as I was finishing up at the gym, I looked out the window and there was an amazing sunset! Beautiful pink stripes floating across the deep blue sky. Very, very pretty!

So, these things make me feel a little better about the sketches this week at 2 Sketches 4 You. I'm not so good with the wavy line concept and my hubby doesn't think my card looks at all like Kazan's sketch. Oh well!

For this card, I used paper scraps from my stash, white rick rack from Hobby Lobby, black rick rack & butterfly stamp from Club Scrap, tag stamp & tag punches from Stampin' Up. The tag says "Happy Valentine's Day" but it's kind of hard to see in the scanned image.

I really liked the simplicity of Peet's Bonus sketch! I think I'll use this design again. I made a birthday card for my dad's upcoming birthday. The printed paper is from KI Memories, the circle frame from KMA, the navy glitter paper from Club Scrap. I used some pretty sturdy adhesive on the "77" and wish it had been glued on straight instead of at an angle. But, there is kind of a flow up and to the right -- maybe I can think of an artistic reason explanation for that! LOL!

Okay, my cat just brought me one of his toys -- I'd better sign off and go play! Luckily, I'm wearing jeans & tennis shoes, so he can kill his mouse to his heart's content & I get no scratches!

Thanks for taking a look at my cards and have a wonderful day!

Teresa

January Thoughts and a Birthday Card

This week it feels a lot more like January (46 deg F this morning) -- last week, it was 80 deg F in Houston and I had to run the A/C.

I'm not big into New Year's Resolutions. As one of the hosts on KSBJ said, "If you know you need to make a change in your life, why wait until January First?" However, this year I want to stay quiet and follow God's will in my life. I've been reading the Mitford series by Jan Karon and I think there's a lot to be said for the simple life in a small town....as long as there's a scrapbook store in that small town! LOL!

My friend, Kathy, already has our Show 'N Tell lunches organized for this year. I'll have to send them my blog link so they can see the birthday card I made for my sister. I'm ever so grateful to share a passion for scrapbooking with her -- she does a terrific job on her cards and I am constantly inspired by her creativity. (I confess that sometimes all I have for Show 'N Tell are Tami's cards, especially if I've been travelling a lot for work.)

Here's the birthday card I sent Tami. I don't usually use pink, but I found a virgin Heidi Swapp kit hidden away in my room -- and of course, thinking of Heidi makes me think PINK! I also was inspired by one of Dawne Ivey's happy new year cards (pg. 96) in the Dec '08 issue of Cards (my great hubby got me the magazine for Christmas).

Thanks for taking a look at my blog!

2 Sketches 4 You (Laura's Sketch 16)

After a sunny 2 week Caribbean vacation, I feel relaxed AND creative. I sketched a scrapbook page layout almost every day in my journal so that the Puerto Rico scrapbook should go quicker than normal!

Today feels like Friday, since I got 2 extra comp days for 2008 and will not have to go back to work until Tuesday, 6 January 2009! Instead of working on house projects, I'm giving myself a "crop-in-house". Now, we'll see how much my little furry friends help me......

With such a great Christmas, we needed lots of thank yous! And, I recently subscribed to Quick Quotes canvas club of the month (yeah, like I need more scrapbook club of the month stuff...LOL!). I've used their yummy "Brown Sugar Collection" papers on these cards. (Other supplies are flowers: unknown, brads: unknown, bling: Michaels, stamps & ink: Stampin' Up, chipboard: from Tami's ideas cut with Sizzix, paint: Making Memories.)

Andy said he liked the second card better since it has two flowers -- he hadn't seen the sketch but I thought the first one was closer to the sketch. I kinda view the sketches as guidelines and idea starters! I'm not very good at being exacting (probably why I'm a terrible cook -- I tend to forget ingredients).





Especially a big thank you to Tami for the Quick Kutz. Hobby Lobby has these dies and the coupon does not generally exclude Quick Kutz. Yeah! I'm going to have some fun!

Happy & Safe New Year to all! (And I say good riddance to 2008!)

Thanks for looking at my blog.
Teresa