Penguin Cards

Do penguins and summertime really go together? Yes! Absolutely! For two reasons. First, a stamp designer put penguins in a snorkel mask and an inner tube. What else are you going to do? One day I may figure out a snow scene for them, but in the meantime, it's summer themes all the way! 

Sentiment and waves by Simon Says Stamp; embossing folder by Darice;
penguin by River City Rubber Works. 

Penguin by River City Rubber Works; sentiment by Rosie's Roadshow. 

Inner tubes and sentiment by Stampin' Up; penguin by River City Rubber Works.

The second reason is because it's HOT outside, and it is refreshing to think of the cold climate they live in – the ice, the wind, the snow. Ahhh! I can almost forget about the humidity. Nah, that never happens.

Stamp Credits: I recently discovered that River City Rubber Works is no longer in business. I was sad to learn that, because their stamps are fun and unique. Good luck to the owners on their next venture.

Rainbow Card

It is sad to know I have a small collection of cards that have been created in the wake of tragedies. I will not send this card to anyone, just as I have not mailed the others, rather they remain my handmade prayers. This card is for grieving people of Orlando, Florida. 

"...My soul is down cast within me. 

Yet this I call to mind and therefore have hope: 

Because of the Lord's great faithfulness we are not consumed, 

for his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness." 

Lamentations 3:22-23

Jesus said, 

"A new command I give you: 

love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, 

if you love one another." 

John 13:34-35

Chocolate Prayer Card

Chocolate, prayers, and love. What more can you send a friend whose heart is heavy? Though I did not leave any chocolate in the mailbox when I delivered this, the thought counts completely here – warm fuzzies for a weary friend. 

The sentiment is a mash up of words from a Hampton Arts stamp and a Hero Arts set.  

I wish I could give proper credit to the designer of this cute card, but I took a screen shot of it from someone else's repost on social media, and that was a year and a half ago. I do love how an idea can ramble around in my brain for a long time before the perfect opportunity comes along to act on it. Though sometimes that chance comes only after I own the right stamps. :-)

This is the original card. The sentiment says, "Everything goes better with chocolate!". This is the only chocolate that can sit in a mailbox on a summer day and not melt. 

19th Anniversary Card

Today is our 19th wedding anniversary. I did a little number crunching in preparation for this blog post. During these years there has been 1 husband, 2 dogs, and 3 houses. Our extended family lives in 4 states, and in the 5th year we moved to Georgia. There were 6 trips to Disney World (two were school band trips and one of those my husband chaperoned!). In the 7th year Hannah started kindergarten. Robert and I have taken 8 trips without children. (Thank you Grandparents!) The 9th year was our first trip (of ten, so far) to Palm Island Florida.

It wasn't long after our 10th anniversary following a trip to Palm Island that Robert had back surgery. In the 11th year my Mom moved from Virginia to Georgia, and the girls saw more of their Grammie. We've owned 12 vehicles, which is really hard to believe, since our mini van is almost eleven years old! Year 13 was identified by my cancer diagnosis, and during year 14 we visited Arlington National Cemetery to bury my Mom next to my Dad. 

This year our daughter Amy is 15 years old; we've tallied up 16 trips to St. Louis, MO and Apex, NC; our daughter Hannah is 17 years old; and last year, number 18, we traveled to Japan. I am excited to see what the next 19 years have in store for us. Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband!

Summertime Card

Is there a quintessential Summertime song? One immediately came to mind when I decided to include song lyrics in today's blog, but then I found this article in Rolling Stone magazine and decided there are two. 

"In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry, 1970. 

When the weather's fine

We go fishin' or go swimmin' in the sea

We're always happy

Life's for livin' yeah, that's our philosophy

Sing a long with us 

Dee dee dee-dee dee

Dah dah dah-dah dah

Yeah we're hap-happy

"School's Out" by Alice Cooper, 1972

No more pencils no more books

No more teacher's dirty looks

Out for Summer

Out till fall

We might not come back at all

School's out forever

School's out for summer

Tomorrow is the last day of school here, and I'm sure it's not far behind for everyone else. So, think about this and get back to me. Let me know what I should be singing in the 21st century. 

Card for Day #22

This is sort of an "Oh my gosh! It's Tuesday. What am I going to post?" post, but it really isn't, because after I finished this card last night, I knew it would be on my blog today. The only issue is what do I write about it? I did give it to my neighbor today for her birthday. I imagine she was surprised, but we only see each other at the summer holiday pool parties, so I will have to wait until Memorial Day to find out. :-) 

Or I could mention it is letter number 131 for my #365project on Instagram @lettersarebetter. And (since I seem to have this thing for short term goals) I am doing a sub set – #the100dayproject with @elleluna, where I was challenged to create a unique hashtag and create for 100 days. I chose #100rubberstamps and this is day 22. 

What you see here is "birthday card 2.0". My first rendition was ho-hum, and though I thought they can't all be my favorites, I couldn't leave it alone either. So... the circle of flowers covers up the part I wasn't wild about, and I added Birthday Wishes. Now all I really want to say about this card is "It's so stinkin' sweet! I think I'll make some more." 

Orange Cards

My hobby is so much fun, because I can make a card with orange slices to thank someone for inviting me to volunteer at the Orange Conference. For three days I stocked book shelves and worked a cash register. I watched as thousands of people interacted with vendors, and I listened as they told me about the speakers they heard. It was an excellent change of scenery for me, and the woman who invited me deserves a big "thank you". 

The Orange Conference, put on by The reThink Group, is an annual event for pastors and leaders in youth and student ministry of all denominations. This is the first year I've volunteered, and I was simply amazed that the 8,000 person capacity arena was sold out!  

I'm not certain of the origin of the name, but it is along the lines of: if church = yellow and home = red, then life + faith = orange. This card if for a young lady I have volunteered with for the past year and she is going back to school. Both women are beautiful examples of orange.

Stamp Credits: Orange slices, flowers, and sentiment by Stampin' Up. Flower pot by Stamp It!