Staff Appreciation Lunch at Middle School!

I thought I would share a few pictures of the Luncheon I did at the Middle School this year since I used My Digital Studio to make most of the decorations.  So fast and easy.  Sorry for the "not so good" pictures--it is always the last thing I think of on event day and get them in really fast and of course miss a bunch! 

I know the Sweets Loading Zone Picture is blurry but that was a fun one and I wanted to share it anyway.  

The event went really well and I know the staff of 170 appreciated it !  And I hope they know how much we appreciate what they do for our children! 

Happy Wednesday!
Mary Jo

Try Stamping On Tuesday!

Here we go again...here is my card for this week's sketch...

I love all the white in he background, I don't do that too often but when I do I love it!  So clean looking.   I was not sure I liked this sketch when I first saw it but I do like the card so I am glad I played along--you will be glad too if you play along!

Here is the sketch--you can view all the samples for it HERE.

Card details:
Stamps: For the Birds
Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Other: markers, candy dots, washi tape(gingham garden)

Hope you week is off to a great start!
Mary Jo

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 269 (TSSC269)

I am so happy that we are starting a brand new week--last week was not very good in so many ways but today is Monday and that is a new week and even better--a new sketch!   I hope you find time to play along with us.  Here is the sketch....

Looks like a pretty easy one to me--what do you think? 

I decided to keep mine nice and simple--used my new favorite color too--Strawberry Slush!

This is just such a beautiful color.  So fun.  I used a bit of Pear Pizzaz as an accent.  

Stamps: Blooming with Kindness

Paper: Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz and Quatrefancy Specialty Paper

Ink: Strawberry Slush

Other: ribbon, scallop edge punch, and the fun new candy dots! 

And now for the designs from the SUPER talented design team!!!!

Tanya

Mary Brown

Jonia Smith

Carolyn Bennett

Eileen LeFevre

Nicole Tugrul 

Sue Root

Were those not all fabulous???? !!

Here are some basic rules for participation..

1. You have a full week to play along!
2. Create a new card using the sketch as your inspiration.
3. Use any products you choose.
4. Add your card to your blog or other on-line spot and link back to this challenge.
5. Come back here and add a direct link to your sample for the challenge and NOT you home page of your blog--people will not look for your challenge card--trust me.
6. And this one is not really a rule but a request--get rid of that word verification!  It makes it hard for us to comment on your samples.  It is easier for you to delete the spam then for us to jump through tons of hoops to comment.  If your put your comments on moderation you do not have to worry about spam--you will have the option to delete it BEFORE it ever goes on your blog so you will ALWAYS be safe!
7. Have fun and tell you friends to play too!
   
   

    Thanks for stopping by--Mary Jo

   Now it is time to share you sample below....

Top Three Picks from Sketch Challenge 268!

Fun samples again this week, thanks so much for playing along.  Below are my top three picks in no particular order.  As always if you click on the name below the image you will be taken to the creator's blog and be able to see all the details!

 Three Trees

 Joyce

 Walk in the Wild Birthday

If you are a winner please feel free to add my winner button to your blog!  You can grab the code for the button on the upper left hand side of my blog.

 

 

Be right back with the new challenge! Mary Jo

Last day of Preview Week!

Today's the last day of PREVIEW WEEK on Create with Connie and Mary and Connie is sharing a FREE TUTORIAL with you!  She used a Tag a Bag Gift Box to come up a cute little flower box gift! 

Hurry up and check it out HERE! 

Sad day--no Flashback Post today.

Sorry there is no flashback post today--I have had a really bad week--my dog got really sick--then had emergency surgery and unfortunately at 2am this morning she died in my arms.  I am so sad. 

RIP my Tanner Girl--say hi to Uppie when you see him.

We have lost two dogs in less than six months.  The first was 13 years old and in bad shape but this one was only 8 year old and full of joy and so playful and loving--she will be sorely missed. 

By the way as long as I have your attention I would be remiss to remind you that you only have 2 days left to take advantage of the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for our wonderful SUMMER COLLECTION.

Grab the deal while you can.

You can see you freebie tutorial and blog candy giveaway for the day by clicking the logo below.

 

Day 5 of preview week!

More blog candy going out today!  Be sure to click on the logo below to get all the information! 

Preview Week

 

Lots of fun stuff going on this week--keep checking their site by clicking the logo above and you will see what I mean.

Do you have a Grad to celebrate?

This week on Latenightstampers  (aactually the next two weeks since the challenges are running for two weeks over the summer.) the challenge is Party Time!  What better reason to PARTY than to celebrate someone's graduation?!  This fun origami type card has been around the internet for years but it is a fun one and much easier now that we have the diagonal score board!  Our school colors are Maroon and White as you can probably figure from the photos below...

I love that it holds a gift card or money!  So fun and easy too!

Here are some quick directions for making this fun card.
 Begin with a piece of card stock that is 9 3/4" by 4 1/4" .  With the regular score board (straight lines) place you card stock so that the 9 3/4" edge runs along the top of the score board.  Score from top to bottom at 5 1/2"   Now you will want to change you scoreboard to the diagonal board.  Again lay your  card stock so that the 9 3/4" edge runs along the top of the score board.  Score from the 2 1/8" mark straight down until you are off the paper--this line will cross over the straight line you did before.  Flip the card stock over so that the opposite 9 3/4" edge runs along the top of the score board and do the same score from the 2 1/8" mark.  Now you will change your card stock so that the 4 1/4" edge is at the top of the card and score from the 2 1/8" mark again.  This line be from the center of the top and come down to meet the first score line.  Flip the card stock to get the same score on the opposite side. You card stock should now look like the image below.  You will cut out the grey areas and then fold on all scorelines until it lays like shown in the above pictures.  Clear as mud???  Probably should do a picture or video tutorial but I am betting there are tons out there is you need to see them.  Just Google Grad Origami card. Click on image below to make it bigger. 

 

After your card is folded you will need a square piece of card stock for the hat layer that is 2 3/4" square--and the insert is 4" by 3"--be sure to only attach the insert on the two sides and the bottom so you can insert money or gift card.

Don't forget about your chance to win blog candy at Create with Connie and Mary today!

Lots of fabulous ideas to be found there. Click the logo below

Remember we are still celebrating

Preview Week

 

Happy today!

Mary Jo

Where are the freebies and great ideas today?

Remember we are still celebrating

Preview Week

 

Remember I told you there would be lots of fun stuff going on this week--keep checking their site by clicking the logo above and you will see what I mean. 

 

Today there blog candy- so hurry up and get over there to check it out!  

 

CLICK on rhe LOGO above!

Time is running out to jump in at Early Bird Pricing so don't miss it--you will save $5!

 

Try Stamping on Tuesday!

It's Tuesday and you know what that means---only three more days of school for my son!!!!!!! Oh and the Try Stamping on Tuesday Challenge too!  Here is my sample for this week --  I got a bit silly with the fish from the By the Tide set....

What do you think?  A fishy anniversary card???  Maybe I am stretching it a bit, but hey, maybe not! What do you think?  Actually I know what you may be thinking--there is only one fish in that set and it faces only one way--how did she get two fish looking at each other!  Well let me tell you a little secret.....If you stamp you image on one of our fabulous clear blocks and then use that to stamp the image on your paper you will get the reverse image!  So easy--you have to be sure to keep a steady hand when stamping on the block and then be sure it all transfers to the card stock--I do this by laying the block on the work space--stamping the fish on it, then leaving the block were it is and putting the card stock on top of it.  Then I can rub the image a bit to be sure all parts are stamping on there--then very carefully lift the card stock up and there you have it--a mirror image!  Nice huh?!

Stamps:  By the Tide, Teeny Tiny Wishes, water droplet stamp from the 1st paper pumpkin kit
Paper: Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler
Other: 1" circle punch, chevron embossing folder, three heart punch, blender pen,

Want six more ideas with these stamps?  Purchase my By the Tide tutorial for only $2.50 and you will get step by step directions for making six more cards with these same sets and another technique with you blocks too!

 

By the Tide Card Set Tutorial

8 pages full of pictures and step by step directions 

including cutting measurements!

Only $2.50

 

Tutorial will be automatically downloaded when you make your payment!

 

Happy Tuesday!

Mary Jo

Create with Connie And Mary Freebies

Preview Week

 

Remember I told you there would be lots of fun stuff going on this week--keep checking their site by clicking the logo above and you will see what I mean. 

 

Right now there are two projects available for free!

And I am so sorry to say there was blog candy yesterday-but if you didn't check the site you missed it

but no fear--there will be more. 

 

So get on over there and see what tutorials they are sharing for free!

Hint there is an darling little paper bag album and a sweet piece of home decor!

My appoligies for not posting the blog candy yesterday--I tied numerous times and blogger was giving me a hard time--and my dog is really sick--might not make it sick--so I spent lots of time with her.  Hopefully there will be no more misshaps with blogger--I may have to make the dreaded move that is twice this week I had trouble posting!  

Mary Jo

Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge 268 (TSSC268)

I am so excited there are only three more half days before the kids are done for summer!  I love summer--don't you?  The only bad thing about summer is that I NEVER want to be in the house--not even to stamp so I try to get lots done on any rainy days, lol!

Welcome to another week of my sketch challenge--we are on week 268 and I know you are going to love this weeks sketch--so here it is...

And here is my sample..I combined it with the Latenightstamper's new challenge which is Party Time.  Stuff for parties--well how about an invite to get us started.

I just got this new Sketched Birthday stamp set and just love it.  This is my first card with it--I used my favorite new in-color-Strawberry Slush!  So fun.

Stamps: Sketched Birthday

Paper: Strawberry Slush, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White,  Quatrefancy Specialty Paper

Ink: Strawberry Slush

Other:  Apothecary Accents Framelits. rhinestones, ribbon

And now for the amazing samples from the awesome Design Team

Mary Brown

Jonia Smith 

Robbie

Tanya

Nicole Tugrul

Carolyn Bennett

Eileen LeFevre

 

Were those not all fabulous???? !!

 

Here are some basic rules for participation..

1. You have a full week to play along!
2. Create a new card using the sketch as your inspiration.
3. Use any products you choose.
4. Add your card to your blog or other on-line spot and link back to this challenge.
5. Come back here and add a direct link to your sample for the challenge and NOT you home page of your blog--people will not look for your challenge card--trust me.
6. And this one is not really a rule but a request--get rid of that word verification!  It makes it hard for us to comment on your samples.  It is easier for you to delete the spam then for us to jump through tons of hoops to comment.  If your put your comments on moderation you do not have to worry about spam--you will have the option to delete it BEFORE it ever goes on your blog so you will ALWAYS be safe!
7. Have fun and tell you friends to play too!
    
   Now it is time to share you sample below....
    

 

Top Three for sketch challenge 267!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend.  And that you got to spend some time with those important men in your lives--in honor of Father's Day! 

I love all the samples that were shared for last week's sketch challenge--amazing all of them right from the Design Team down to the very last entry!  Thanks so much for playing along each week-it really makes for a fun week seeing all the samples. 

My top three picks for the week--in no particular order are as follows....

 Diane McCornack

 

  Three Trees

Joyce

Great right?!!!

You can click on the name below each to be taken to the creator's blog as read all the details--and of course leave them a nice comment!

If you are a winner please feel free to add my winner button to your blog!  You can grab the code for the button on the upper left hand side of my blog.

 

 

Be right back with the new challenge! Mary Jo