Happy Birthday Betsy!!!

Merry Christmas!  I hope everyone is have a wonderful day with their loved ones. 

We're having a low key day today so I thought I'd catch up on some blogging!
 This was for a sweet dear friend of mine, Betsy for her birthday. 

For our Dirty Dozen Theme this month, we were tasked with adding texture to our cards.  Some ideas given were- to use sand, sandpaper, grit medium, glitter, distress embossing powder, or to use  sandpaper to distress our panel. 
For my texture part, it took way longer that I would like to admit and unfortunately didn't turn out the way that I hoped.  I used glue at first to add the flock to the clouds and topped it with glamour dust.  It didn't hold at all.  I then added  paperglaze, the flock and the glamour dust and only the flock stayed.  I then added paperglaze on top of the flock and then the glamour dust and let it set over night and ended up with raised hard glittery clouds...not the fluffy puffy glittery ones I was going for, ha!  I also added glitter to my sun.  It is a bright happy card, and I do love the over all look and feel of it.  I used SC1015  for my layout.

I used My Favorite Things Card Stock.
My Favorite Things Stitched Tall Rainbow, Full Sun, Cute Cloud Outlines, and Itty Bitty Strips Die-namics.

Paperglaze, Snow White Fun Flock, Glamour Dust, and Denami Design Glitter.

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Happy 3 Years of Co-Ride Leading Linden!!!

My last entry for the Dirty Dozen Friends and Neighbors Challenge.  We were tasked with making cards depicting something we enjoy doing with friends. Make a card inspired by a friend, neighbor, or someone special in our life.  Make a house-shaped card or a house-warming gift.  This is for my co-ride leader Linden, to thank her for leading rides with me these last 3 years.  Without her, our little group wouldn't be possible.  She always says that coffee is the best part of the ride!

I used SC1029 for my layout.  I started out by stamping My Favorite Things Coffee Bean Background in Pecan Pie, then mounting it on a Crumb Cake card base.  I die cut a circle in Vanilla, added Versamagic Chalkink in Sea Breeze then ran it through the die cut machine using Coffee Break Companion for the steam.  I die cut the coffee mug and colored it with copics.  Next I die cut the coffee beans, coloring the ends with copics.  Then I layered the circle on a Pecan Pie circle, then layered them on a scalloped circle die cut in Vanilla.  I die cut the scallop border from My Favorite Things in Pecan Pie to finish off the card.

My inspiration sketch.

Me & Linden

How our first ride started, just the 3 of us...

The 3 Musketeers- Linden, Warwick, & me.

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Happy Birthday Mikaela!!!

My second entry for the Dirty Dozen Friends and Neighbors Challenge.  We were tasked with making cards depicting something we enjoy doing with friends. Make a card inspired by a friend, neighbor, or someone special in our life.  Make a house-shaped card or a house-warming gift.  This card is inspired by my daughter.  She loves Sugar Skulls.  When I came across this stamp, I knew I had to have it so I could make my daughter a card with it.

I just love all the Oddball stamps from Stamping Bella, they're so quirky and fun!  This Day of the Dead Oddball stamp is also perfect to have on hand for Dia de Los Muertos.  When I sat down to make my daughter's card, I asked her to pick 3 colors.  She picked Dusty Rose and Olive Green.  I had to come up with the 3rd color, ha!  I stamped my image in memento ink, coloring her with copics.  I couldn't quite get a Dusty Rose so I sort of tried again...so she ended up with 2 shades of an attempted Dusty Rose and Olive Green.  I mounted the panel on Moody Mauve.  Sentiment is from My Favorite Things Itty Bitty Birthday and Itty Bitty Strips die-namics.  I used SC1028 for my layout, rotating it upright.

Thank you for having a look at my blog!

 

Happy Birthday Debbie!!!

 For my massage therapist for her birthday.  She loves horses and has a couple of her own.

I used Stamping Bella's Giddyupabella, coloring her in Copics.  Poppy Parade, Black, White, and Reminisce French Kitchen card stock.  My Favorite Things Festive Old Friends stamp set for the sentiment and MFT Fishtail Flags Stax.

Thanks for having a look!

Ornamental Thanks...

Thank you's for my hubs co-worker, Jamie who made us a mask ornament for our tree, it's so cute and absolutely perfect for 2020!  And another thank you for my teammate and friend, Brooke who made me the cutest ornament out of a bike gear.  The tag stands for Tucson Women's Group Ride that we are both Ride Leaders for.  On the back it says, "The Year of Zwift" which is totally perfect since we had to move our rides from outside to inside on a virtual platform called Zwift.  It's been great fun being able to still do our weekly rides and ride with people virtually all over the world.

I used the SC833 layout.  I stamped Sparkling Season A la Mode from My Favorite Things in Memento ink on Neenah card stock that was run through the cuttle bug using the Stitched Rectangle die-namic.  I colored her with copics.  I paper pieced the ornament with Echo Park Holly Jolly Paper.  Magenta Madness for my base.  Sentiment from the My Favorite Things A la Mode Blue with out You stamp set. 

Ornaments from Jamie and Brooke...

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you're having an awesome New Year.  

 

Happy Birthday Lisa!!!

For my sweet and dear friend Lisa who's birthday is today!  Happy birthday Lisa!!!  I hope you're having an amazing day!

I used SC830 for my layout.  Black, Rose Red and Very Vanilla card stock.  I stamped My Favorite Things Knitted Sweater in Crumb Cake on the Vanilla panels.  My Mind's Eye Lost and Found paper.  I stamped the moose from the Sweater Weather in the Woods set in neenah on memento ink, coloring with copics then used the coordinating die-namic to cut it out so I didn't have to fussy cut.  Sentiment from MFT PI Piggy Bank on the Essential Stitched Sentiment die-namic.  The Black circle is from spellbinders.

 Thank you so much for stopping by!

Let's Feast...

 Thanksgiving dinner is my most favorite meal ever.  We have been getting together with our best friends for Thanksgiving for the last 7 years.  Their family has become our family and our family has become theirs.  This year with COVID, our Thanksgiving looked a bit different but we had technology that helped bring everyone together when we couldn't be together.

I made Thanksgiving cards for my closest friends and family members.

I used the current weeks (when I made these) sketch challenge SC826.  I stamped My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Turkey Time in memento ink and colored her with copics.  I paper pieced her dress then did a second paper piecing for the sleeve/arm/turkey.  Baked Brown Sugar card stock for my base, layering with Authentique Glowing paper.  Basic Gray panel with a Very Vanilla layer run through the cuttlebug with My Favorite Things Wonky Stitch Square, then stamped the sentiment from the Turkey Time stamp set on the Vanilla layer.  I mounted my layer, then put the MFT Corn Stalk die-namics in Baked Brown Sugar, then topped it off with my image layer on pop dots and finishing the card with Basic Gray ribbon.

Technology bringing our families together-
FaceTiming with my best friends parents in Kentucky.

My hubs Video Chatting with our Grandboys in Idaho.

My bestie and I Video Chatting with my daughter in Idaho.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Easy Peasy Lemmon Squeasy...

Every year the Tucson Tri Girls host "Easy Peasy Lemmon Squeasy".  It's a 6 week progressive climb up our beloved Mt. Lemmon.  Mt. Lemmon is ranked 33rd on the top 100 toughest road bike climbs.  It's a 25 mile climb with an elevation gain of 5,500 feet (depending on which "top" you go to).  This year we did Easy Peasy a bit differently since our mountain caught fire on June 5th from a lightening strike and burned 119, 978 acres over 48 days.  We held our annual EPLS virtually over Zwift.  It was a lot of fun being able to ride with our TTG and our sponsors, but our hearts ache for the devastation the fire has cause to our mountain.  I made Thank You cards for our ride leaders.  It wasn't easy trying to do this each week and I wanted them to know their time was appreciated.

And since there's a thing in my house called "Tanya Math"...I had to make one more card...ooops!!!

I used the current week's SC812 for my layout.  Perfect Plum for my base and Basic Gray Kioshi paper.  I had a custom made TTG stamp made with our emblem.  I stamped it in Gorgeous Grape on Neenah card stock.  Sentiment from SU Morning Meadow set.  

Pictures below are from the fire.  They are not mine, just ones I grabbed from Google.

You can see the fire retardant from many miles away on the mountain.  

The planes were dropping it and water non stop.

I don't know how something so devastating can also be so beautiful.

Amazingly no structures, homes, or lives were lost in the fire.

It's just heartbreaking to see the damage the fire caused.

The firefighters worked in triple digit temps day in and day out.

During the 25 mile drive (or in our case, bicycle ride), you'll got through four distinct habitats, from Tucson's desert up through grasslands, woodlands and finally to the forests at the top.  You'll climb a total of 5,500 feet.  In terms of ecosystems and climate...starting at Mile Post 0, it's like driving from Mexico to Canada in one hour.

Columbian Goddess...

A RAK for a dear friend of mine, Paula.  Paula is one of the kindest and sweetest people you'll ever meet.  She has a heart of gold, always willing to help you out when you need it, volunteer when there's opportunities to do so, and just an all around amazing person.  I'm so thankful to have met her and happy to have her as my friend.  When I saw this image, I knew I had to get it to make Paula's card.  She loves working out, and...well, it reminded me of her too.  Paula's favorite colors are black and white...not colors I'm use to working with but I gave it my best shot.

I used this weeks SC811 for my layout.  I had my hubs print the image for me.  I just discovered Krista Smith Stamps.  She has lots of fun stuff!  I colored her with copics, trying to make her look like Paula (our Columbian Goddess!) the best I could.  Glaze pen on the dumb bells.  I used Echo Park Happy Days Paper and My Favorite Things Happy Hellos die-namics.  Kept it CAS.

Me and Paula and an Air Force Ball.  She looked like a Greek Goddess!

Saying "see you later" is always hard, Paula and her family moved to another base.

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Birthday my lil' Country Girl...

Happy Birthday to my lil' Country Girl Shirey!!!  I first met Shirey cycling up Mt. Lemmon with the Tucson Tri Girls 3 years ago.  This year we won't be cycling up our beautiful mountain as it's been on fire for the last 10 days.  I've had a great time going from cycling buddies to becoming friends with Shirey.  She is one crazy lady who is always laughing and having a good time.  

 I used this week's SC805 for my layout.  I stamped My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Cowgirl in memento ink on neenah, coloring with copics then fussy cutting her out.  I put her on pop dots for dimension.  I made a "piece of wood" using More Mustard and Close to Cocoa ink.  Gorgeous Grape Cardstock and some rhinestones cause Shirey likes her bling!

Me and Shirey not in cycling gear, it happens every now and then!

Thank you for stopping by!

Kindness is Natural to Nancy...

I was on the hunt for a shaker cup I was given a couple years ago from a nutrition class from Natural Grocers.  It's the most amazing shaker cup!  It has this little cup under the shaker cup that you can put your post workout powder in, it's a total game changer!  I wanted to find one to give to my friend and wasn't having any luck until I met this sweet lady Nancy at Natural Grocers.  We walked all over the store looking, and after I explained in detail what it was I was looking for, she realized she had an extra one and gave it to me!  It turned out she was the new nutritionist, just my luck!!!  To thank her for her kindness, I made her this card and will be dropping it off by her store tomorrow. 

I used this weeks SCS color challenge, CC773- Early Espresso, Balmy Blue (I didn't have any so I used Coastal Cabana), and So Saffron.  I used Stampin' Ups Mosian Madness and My favorite things Pretty Poppies sentiment.  Accessories- cuttlebug folder, mosiac madness punch and popdots.  I also used this weeks SCS sketch challenge SC783.

Thank you so much for looking.

Happy Birthday Alan...

I made this for my teammate Alan.  For his birthday he wanted to cycle up Mt. Lemmon.  We did it on a day that was also a supported ride sponsored by GABA.  It  was in May, great weather at the base but the weather turned as we were climbing.  Alan didn't have a base layer or gloves or anything to block the wind and keep him warm on our descend down the mountain.  Luckily GABA had newspapers to put in our jerserys "just in case".   

I tried to get close to our team colors.  I used Lucky Limeade and Brilliant Blue.  The Bicycle is from Hero Arts and the sentiment from MFT Little Loveosaurus.  The printed paper is from S.E.I. Black Orchid paper pad.  I used SC749 for my layout.

 Carolyn, Me, and Alan.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Triple Crown Challenge 2019...

I made this to thank Cyclefit Solutions for hosting the annual Triple Crown Challenge.  This event consists of cycling up three mountains in three days, day 1- Mt. Graham, day 2- Kitt Peak, day 3- Mt. Lemmon and is by invitation only.  I climbed a total of 17,023 feet over 129 miles and cycled up to the Mt. Lemmon Observatory for my first time.  It was an incredible challenge and well run by Tim with Cycleful Solutions.  

I used the current SC746 for my layout.  My color inspiration came from one of Tim's cycling kits- Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and White.  I used a marker and art spritzer then stamped the bicycles from the Hero Arts set.  My Favorite Things Die-namics Monarch Border. Sentiment is from the Stampin' Up Express Yourself set.

My color inspiration, from one of Cyclefit Solutions Cycling Kits.

Day 1- Me and Tim on Top of Mt. Graham.

Me and my teammate, mentor, and friend, Carolyn.
PC- Amy Orchard

Me and Carolyn.
PC- Tim Carolan

Day 2- Me going up Kitt Peak.
PC- Time Carolan

Me going down Kitt Peak.
PC-Patty Bitnar

Day3- Me and my teammate and friend, Amy going up Mt. Lemmon.
PC- Tim Carolan

Made it to the Observatory with my teammates by my side!
Amy, Laura, Me, Carolyn.

What a fantastic challenge this was and two checks off my bucket list!
Thank you so much Tim, Kathleen and all the other volunteers to make this happen!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!