It's a DRY Heat...

I made these cards to welcome the new spouse's from my husband's squadron to Tucson.  

I used 3 stamps from Stamp Out (I bought them at a local stamp show) to create the scene.  I used Prismacolor Pencils, Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry cardstock, MFT PI Soldier Boy for the sentiment, SU Square Punch, a button and linen thread.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve!  Thanks for stopping by!

LucKey...

LucKey...I'm lucky to to be a Key Spouse and get to do the things that I do.  I'm thankful and grateful for the people I have met along the way, the opportunities that have been given to me, and for some of the challenges I have had to overcome too.  It's not always easy, but it is rewarding and I have made some lifelong friendship from being a Key Spouse.  The Key Spouses were given a luncheon in our honor to thank us for what we do. I made thank you cards for having the luncheon they had for us =)

I stamped ALM Key to my Heart in Memento Ink on Neenah, coloring her with Copics.  I colored in the key with a glaze pen.  Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, and My Mind's Eye American Made Paper.  SU Square Punch and Sentiment from SU Noteworthy Set.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a great week!
I'm starting mine off with meeting my friends new baby girl, I'm so excited!

Shooting Stars...

For one of my hubs bosses who recently moved to North Carolina and got a job teaching at Duke University.  I will miss this particular boss as he's always been one of those people who always takes the time to sit and chat with me when I come to the office.  Just one of those people that you will always remember as they have touched your life in such a positive way.  I made him this card to thank him for all he's done for me and my hubs and wish him well on his new journey.

I want to say I got my inspiration for this card on pinterest but I don't have it pinned to give credit to that person (I'm sorry!).  I'm one of those people who always gives a person credit if I've CASE'd their card and I feel terrible knowing I made this card and can't give credit to the person my inspiration came from...=(  Anyhow...I stamped SU's Musical Score in black ink on Crumb Cake.  I used Die-namics Star Stax partically off the Brilliant Blue Cardstock, then used a smaller Die-namics Star Stax  in Real Red to put in the middle of the Brilliant Blue cut out.  Sentiment from SU's Godspeed Set.  SU Square Punch used to make the tag.

Thank you for stopping by!

Hope you have a great rest of your weekend!

Pregnant YoYo Girl...

Yah...I had to laugh when my friend gave this card it's title.  Really???  He said the picture on the phone was small and he thought it was a pregnant girl playing with a yoyo.  So, the title/name stuck, ha!  I made a bunch of these cards to invite all the ladies at my hubs work to my house for our holiday spouse's meeting.  Each year we do an ornament exchange, White Elephant Style.  When I host a spouse's meeting, I like to invite all the women at my hubs works and let them know they are always more than welcome to attend and do so by making them each a handmade invitation.

I kept the card and design very CAS.  I stamped MFT ALM Sparkling Season in black ink and left her that way to keep my card CAS.  I used Black, Soft Sky, and White Cardstock. Snowflake punch, button, and stickles.

Hope yall had a very Merry Christmas!

Thank you for stopping by!

Key Spouse...

Happy Thursday...I'm still catching up on cards I made for 2013, I'm almost done =)  I made this card to thank my husband's squadron for a one time monetary donation they made to me for the key spouse program. Everything up to that point had come out of my own pocket (not to go into specific detail on what or how much I spend on my deployed spouses) but...their donation was greatly appreciated!!!  

Enjoy your day!

Way to go!!!

Happy Veterans Day!  This was for one of my hubs co-workers who got promoted...

Thank you to all the men and women who has served in our Military!

Have a great day!

A Cup of Thanks...

A couple of weeks ago my spouse's group had their monthly social at a Russian Tea House.  I invited our new First Sergeant to come to meet the spouses and explain to them what it is that he does for them and their spouses and answer any questions the spouses had.  It was really nice for the spouses to get to see him and speak to him on a social level.  As a Key Spouse I work directly with the First Sergeant, acting as a link between him and the spouses.  I made him this card to thank him for taking the time out of his evening and joining us for dinner.

I started off stamping ALM You're My Cup of Tea in Memento Ink on Neenah, coloring with Copics.  EP For The Record 2, Die-namics, SU Square Punch, Twine, and a Button.  I used this weeks MFTWSC139.

Thank-you for stopping by!

Have a great week!!!

Sayonora MSgt West-Toles...

I made this for one of my husbands co-workers who's getting stationed in Japan.  Her going away was Friday.  We had a nice BBQ at the squadron so we could all have our time to mingle and say our good-bye's to MSgt West-Toles.  I'm especially fond of MSgt West-Toles, she asked and asked to have my husband transfered to her side.  She always tells me what a brain he is and how much she counted on him to help her and that he really would be an asset on her side of the squadron.  Well, he was moved to her side 2 weeks ago, just as she's leaving.  She told me at her going away..."this is not how it was suppose to work, this is not how I had it all planned out!"  Haha.  She is such a fun lady...her upbeat personality and laugh will be missed.  This is the card that I made for her...

My card is super CAS.  I stamped the image from Dream Gardens onto BG Konnichiwa paper.  Lucky Limeade and Real Red Cardstock.  SU, Square Punch, Mandarin Twine and Buttons.  For my layout I used this weeks SC421.

Thank-you so much for stopping by!

Below is the "RAK/PIF Count Down to my 40th" if you're interested, please join in...

I apologize for not posting week #27 sooner, I had no internet on Thursday and a jam packed weekend.  Without further delay...

Week #27- Remember these are just suggestions, feel free to change them up.  These are just ideas to get you inspired to do random acts of kindness and pay it forward.  Please come back and share with me what you've done, I'd love that!  And thank-you so much for the emails to those of you who wished to not share publicly, that's ok too.  If you're my fb friend, you can share there if you prefer or both.  

Please pick one-

1.  Send a thinking of you card to someone undergoing chemo or who is a cancer survivor.
2.  Thank your mail carrier for their hard work.  I know our mail carrier deserves to be thanked between all the car part and craft supply packages he has to deliver to our house!
3.  Treat a friend or co-worker to breakfast or pay for someone's check at your favorite place to eat breakfast.
4.  Offer to help an elderly person put their groceries in their car or return someone's cart for them (thank-you Kat for the suggestion).

Keeping it short this week since there's only a couple days until I post next weeks RAK/PIF list.  If you have an idea or suggestion, please share, I'd be happy to post it!

Here's what I did last week-
- I made orange blondie brownies for my new neighbors to go with the card I had made for them a few days ago.  I didn't get to meet them though, their daughter was home so I left them with her.
-  I made a card and brought in a tin of tea to my yoga instuctor who's been sick. 
-  I encouraged a friend to keep up the great job she's doing losing weight.
-  I emailed my Commander's Wife and thanked her for motivating me and inspiring me to give yoga a try. 

RAK's/PIF that were done to me-
-  A young teen age boy looked me in the eye and clearly said, "thank-you" as I placed the divider down and pushed my groceries up to make more room for his.  I wasn't expecting him or his mom to say anything and was sure surprised by his kindness, especially at his age.
-  MSgt West-Toles...everytime I see her she always tells me how good she thinks I look and how put together I am.  I always appreciate her kind words and compliments on my appearance/outfits.
-  My  new neighbor brought over a really sweet thank you card and baked two kinds of cookies to thank me for welcoming them to the neighborhood.  I wasn't home, I was at pilates, lol!!!  I finally met them yesterday!

How did everyone else do???

I look forward to hearing from you!

Happy RAK'ing!

Silent Auction Card #2...

I only got around to making two cards for the Silent Auction for my spouse's group.  I put the two cards in a square patriotic basket along with a stars and stripes tin from the $1 bin at Target.  In the tin I put a book of stamps, a pen, and a lil' American Flag.  I made up a tag with the contents of the basket and a voucher for 12 custom made cards.  I of course forgot to take a picture of the complete basket, ah well.  The basket went for $32, we made a total of $255 that night for our spouse's group=)

It's a little hard to see in my picture but my wreath is made out of two layers of Die-namics Hexagon, using MME American Made.  I layered it with Die-namics Stacking Stars and Die-namics Star Stax in Night of Navy, Real Red, White, and Red Rhinestones.  Topped it with a Die-namics Beautiful Bow using EP Dots & Stripes Metropolitan.  Sentiment from PI Soldier Boy, SU Square Punch, SU Linen Thread, Button, EP Little Boy, and the negative from Die-Namics Mini Monarch Border.  I used MFTWSC88.

  Thank-you so much for stopping by! 

Happy Retirement Chief Huckaba!!!

For Chief Huckaba who recently retired.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to his retirement, I woke up at 5 that morning with the flu...I was in bed for the next two days, ugh!  

I did my usual...Neenah, Momento, Copics.  Then fussy cut the image from WTG Godspeed out, mounting it on a Crumb Cake layer I ran through my Cuttlebug.  Real Red, MME American Made paper, Die-namics Star Stax, Star Rhinestones, Button, SU Linen Thread.  I'm still behind with my sketches and trying to catch up.  I used MFTWSC90 for this one.

Thank-you for stopping by!

Have a great weekend!

Thankful for You Treat Bags...

I'm so late in posting these=(  I made Chocolate Covered Salted Caramels for my hubs troops for Thanksgiving.  Oh my heck they were so good!  Time consuming to make, but oh so good!!!

I stamped Give Thanks Circle from Denami Design in Memento Ink on Neenah.  Then using my Stamp-a-ma-jig I stamped the Turkey , coloring with Copics.  I used the SU 1 3/8 Circle Punch and SU Scallop Circle Punch.  Tim Holtz Rossette Die.  More Mustard, Crumb Cake, and I think the paper is American Crafts? or We R Memory Keepers. 

Back view of the treat bags.  The sentiment is from Denami Design.

Group shot of all the treat bags.

Thank-you so much for stopping by!

Silent Auction Card #1...

I'm making a card basket for the silent auction at my hubs squadron's Christmas Party on Friday.  I meant to start this several weeks ago, sigh.  This is the first card I've made for the basket.  My hope was to make 12, fingers crossed I get somewhere close to that!

I started off stamping PI Soldier Girl on Neenah with Memento, coloring with Copics.  I fussy cut her out and mounted her on a layer of Crumb Cake that I ran through my Cuttlebug.  Real Red, White, MME American Made paper.  CB Folders,  Die-namics Star Stax,  SU Linen Thread, Rhinestones, and a Button.  I used MFTWSC101 for my layout.

We went to the 12th Air Force's Christmas Party this past Friday.  It was at a private gated communities country club.  Absolutely beautiful!  The view was amazing...on top of a hill overlooking the city, just breathtaking.  We had a lot of fun.  Below are a few pictures from the evening.

Me and my hubs.

Me and Barb. 

Me, Barb, and Annie. 

Annie and her hubs Matt. 

Thank-you so much for stopping by.

Have a great week!



Congratulations Chief Pohnert...

One of my hubs coworkers pinned on Chief this past Friday.  I made him this card to congratulate him on his accomplishment.  Promotion to Chief is highly competitive, only 1% of the Air Force makes it to Chief.  Congratulations again to making it to the top 1% Chief Pohnert!

I first would like to thank Angela for making this stunning card.  She gave me the idea to make my own stripes...I made mine like  patch they'd sew onto their uniform verses a whole new sleeve like she did.  Thank-you again Angela for the inspiration!!!  I started out by masking the patches on the arm, then stamped WTG Godspeed in Memento on Neenah using Copics.  I made a very modified version of Chief Stripes, cut it out and placed it on the arm (making sure to ask my hubs if I had the placement right, lol).  I used a White Gel Pen for the stripes and buttons.  Real Red, Crumb Cake, Night of Navy and MME American Made paper.  Die-namics Star Stax and Die-namics Stacking Stars, SU Square Punch, Button, Twine, and sentiment from WTG Godspeed.  I'm way behind with my goal of doing the weekly sketch challenges from MFT for a whole year=(  But...this one is actually in on time=)  MFTWSC100.

Thank-you for stopping by!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Halloween Thank-you...

My spouse's group put together a Halloween Party for the kiddos a couple weeks ago.  I made a couple of cards to thank a few people for all of their help.  One of our spouse's was kind enough to offer to take pictures during the party...which turned out great!  We also had a lot of help from my hubs troops...they carried tables up to the second floor for us, set them up, even decorated the room for us!  We appreciated all of their help so very much!!!

I kept my card very simple, using FTL215.  I started out with a Crumb Cake card base.  I used a Pumpkin Pie Marker with the SU Spritzer Tool.  Die-namics Halloween Charms, going over them with Stickles, Die-namics Spider Web, going over them with Smooch Tuxedo, then adding orange pearls for the eyes.  Die-namics Double Dot Border and Big Greetings Stamp Set.

My grandboys at the Halloween Party.

Woody- Wylie (3 1/2 yrs)

Buzz- Connor (2 yrs)

Thank-you for stopping by.

Have a great weekend!



Godspeed...

This is for one of my favorite troops!!!  My hubs co-workers is getting out of the Air Force and going full time Reserves later this week.  I sure am going to miss seeing him at the compound. 

   

This is my entry for CTS#5, and my first time playing with the gals over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  I started out with a card base of Night of Navy with a white layer.  Die-namics Notched Border, my Real Red was a couple of inches wide so I could use the piece that is left on the outside of the Notched Border, not the inside.  I stamped Godspeed on a white layer from the SU Godspeed set.  I used Die-namics Stacking Stars and Echo Park Dots & Stripes Metropolitan and Echo Park Little Boy. 

As we observe Veterans Day today, I'd like to share a poem and few photo's...

Freedom is not Free

by Ashley Persyn

There is a price we pay for freedom

For it is not truly free

But rather paid for by the contributions of veterans

To buy our liberty

As their blood drains from their body and runs like a river

through the grass

Over the years it's forgotten, war is placed in our past

I don't think we all realize the importance veterans

play

as they voluntarily serve America each and every day

We should honor the veterans for they act like a shield

Protecting us from danger, keeping America healed.

So if you would take a second to commemorate

You will instantly see

We owe veterans our gratitude

For they are the reason we are free

 

Me and my hubs at our second welcome home for the WWII Vets.

Normally my hubs would be in uniform saluting at the receiving line=(

  

The first welcome home we attended for the WWII Vets.

Sausa, my hubs, the First Shirt- Sgt White.

I can't explain the emotion felt seeing the Vets come down the receiving line...

It's such a humbling experience.

  

MSgt Moller's pin on. 

One of the strongest, most courageous women I have met. 

RIP Melissa.  We miss you dearly!!!

  

The Commander and his wife when we arrived at DMAFB. (We're on Commander #3)

Such a fabulous and fun couple!!!

Mimi and (Ret) Col Kross 

  

Patriot Riders were there for the September 2012 WWII Vets Welcome Home.

This was from our first welcome home.

I'm honored to have been a part of such a special day for these WWII Vets! 

Thank-you to all the Veterans, past and present for your service and sacrifices...

for it is because of you we have the freedoms we do.

Thank-you for stopping by! 

Have a great week!

 

Halloween Paper Bag Treat Bags...

Oh my heck...I'm finally done with these treat bags, yay!!!  What originally was going to be a quick and simple project turned into a huge time consuming one.  I made 31 of these Halloween Treat Bags to give to my hubs troops and spouses today at our Children's Halloween Party.  Every year his squadron decorates the doors to their offices and hallways, the active duty members get dressed up at the end of the day then the kids get to trick or treat their offices.  After they're done trick or treating, our Spouses Group has a little Halloween Party for them with crafts, games, and food.  This year my grandboys (3 1/2 and 2) are going as...Woody and Buzz.  They're both really excited, especially Wylie...every day he asks me, "Mommom, we have Halloween Party?"  Love him!

This is my entry for RCC73, which is Halloween Spirit.  I knew the Spider Webs were going to be time consuming so I started off with them.  I used the Die-namics Spider Web on vellum, going over it with Smooch Pearlized Top Coat, tucking Silver Cord under the web for the spider to dangle from, then adhering it with Zip Dry. I slightly distressed EP Chillingsworth Manor then added my Denami Design Ribbon (so sad they retired this ribbon, I used the whole spool on this project!), Twine, and Buttons.  I used a mini paper bag, folding the bottom up and adhering three sides so it will leave an opening at the top when folded, creating a "pocket".  Sentiment and Spider from Die-namics Spider Web and Stamp Set, Pumpkin Pie card stock, SU Square Punch, Smooch Tuxedo, Kiwi Pearl Pen.  I tied on a lil' spider web from Die-namics Halloween Charms to the pencil with SU Silver Cord.

  

As I was almost finished making the treat bags, I decided they needed a lil' card to go with them.  So, I made 31 cards...sigh.  I got the glitter foam cats (30 in a pkg) from the $1 store.  Inside the cards I added my Key Spouse "business" card and stamped Happy Halloween. 

The back of the treat bags.  The cards fit perfectly inside the little pocket.  Unfortunately I had already stamped my blog info (custom stamp from PSA Essentials) on the back of the bags before I decided to make the matching cards...ah well.

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by Hurricane Sandy. 

It's amazing the damage one storm can cause.

Thank-you for stopping by. 



Honor Flight...

I made this card to thank my hubs First Shirt for letting me know about the welcome home at the airport for the WWII Vets from DC.  It was an experience I will cherish, one that touched my heart and brought tears welling up in my eyes several times.

I started off coloring PI Soldier Boy in Memento Ink on Neenah, coloring with Copics.  I fussy cut him out and put him on a Cherry Cobler layer that I ran through my CB.  My Minds Eye and Echo Park Paper.  I stamped the sentiment on Sahara Sand and used a SU Punch to make the tab.  Denami Design Button and Twine.  My layout is MFTWSC75. 

Thank-you for stopping by, have a great day!

Happy Retirement Major Stelling!!!

Another one of my hubs co-workers is retiring tomorrow.  Major Stelling is such a sweet lady and so excited to retire and just be a mommy to her children.  I know she will enjoy being a stay at home mom=)  This is the card I made for her to celebrate her special day...

I won this super cute digital image, Lollipop Independence Julie a few months ago from BLD.  I printed a sheet full of her on Neenah paper as soon as I won her so the ink had time to settle and dry.  I'm happy to say I had no issues with the smearing or bleeding, yay!  Anyhow,  I colored her with Copics.  I added a Glitter Pen to the American Flag and the white bits in her dress and a Glaze Pen to her shoes.  Riding Hood Red and MME American Made Paper, Nesties, Die-namics Stacking Stars, and SU Photo Corner Punch.  My sentiment is from the MFT set Big Greetings.  I used this month's SFYTT.  This is my first time playing along in a challenge with the gals at The Pink Elephant.  This weeks TPE151 is to use Vibrant colors.  My hubs and I debated back and forth whether this was considered "Vibrant" for the challenge, he was thinking it was more "Bold"...humph.  Ah well, I'll give it a go... 

June SFYTT is Sponsored by...

TPE151 is Sponsored by BLD

Thank-you for stopping by.  Have a fabulous night!

  

Happy Retirement MSgt Spruill...

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of attending one of my hubs co-workers retirement ceremony.  It was one of the most beautiful retirement ceremonies I have attended.  Their daughter Jasmine was there who is also in the Air Force and was apart of the ceremony.  When MSgt gave his closing speech he said he was passing off the family business to his daughter...brought tears to my eyes!  I will miss MSgt Spruill and his wife Sandy dearly!

This is the card I made for MSgt Spruill.  I used RCC53 for my layout, but I didn't get it linked to the challenge in time=(  I goofed and thought I had 5 days and 34 mins left until I could upload and well, I had 5 hours and 34 mins.  Ah well, lesson learned...create, blog, then be done=)  Anyhow...my card is pretty simple- I used the Air Force Emblem stamp I got from Marco Papers when I was in Ohio several years ago.  Night of Navy, Riding Hood Red, Neenah, My Minds Eye American Made paper, Nesties, and Denami Design Ribbon.



Thank-you for stopping by.

Have a great Memorial Weekend!!!

Congratulations and Farewell MSgt Rodriguez...

Earlier this week I went to an Awards, Promotion, and Going Away Ceremony for one of my hubs co-workers.  She's going remote to Korea for a year.  It's not normal to have 3 ceremonies in one, but that's how the day went=)

I started off making my pinwheel from My Mind's Eye American Made, with a Denami Design Button in the middle.  I wrapped ribbon around foil to make the stick.  Finishing it off with a navy bow.  I made my tag using the SU Photo Corner Punch, sentiment from Service & Sacrifice and a Denami Design Button.  Night of Navy, Riding Hood Red and Neenah Cardstock.  CB Folder.

The goodies from my SFYTT Win have started to arrive so I'm going to spend the rest of the weekend playing with them=)  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!