A Nursing Graduation with High Honors!

As many of you may have read, my youngest daughter complete her R.N. degree back in December, 2013 and passed her R.N. NCLEX licensing test in early February, 2014.  We are, as we should be, extremely proud of her.  She gave her all in the pursuit of this goal, working only part-time, and living at home again.  The results were graduation with high honors of a 4.0 GPA and a Presidential Medal Nominee.  As she says, I may never "walk" for a degree again with high honors and two gold cords, so she plans to do just that.  Her next goal is to complete her B.S.N. at the University of Washington, and I'll be greatly surprised if she isn't just as successful with that course of study.  But, as she says, "I'll be working full-time as an R.N. and going to school part-time, so I may not have as much time to focus just on school work."  She laughs and adds, "And besides, I'm not getting any younger!"

To commemorate achieving this goal with such success, I wanted to make her a special card.  I made several "owl" graduation cards a few years ago and decided to use owls again for Jackie's card, but there would be two owls on her card, one with a cap and gown (and gold cords, of course), and one transforming into nurse scrubs.  I hope Jackie likes her little owl graduation card, as it was a lot of fun making it for her.

Recipe:  Papers: Recollections Navy cs (cardbase); SU Lucky Limeade; SU Soft Suede cs (tree/sponged); SU Always Artichoke (sponged); DCWV Collage Art Stack; MME Everyday Tango Collection; Recollections Essentials Distressed (blue inside); DCWV Shimmer Stack; October Afternoon: Cakewalk/ Hula Hoop (stripe); SU Red Glimmer paper.  SU stamps: A Dozen Thoughts.  SU Punches: Owl Builder, Itty Bitty Circle (cap)/ Flower (nurse cross) punches.  EK Punches: 3/4" Square (hat-cut to diamond), Fancy Photo Corners (inside). Dies:  Lifestyles-Eyelet Ovals; Nesting Ovals (modified smaller). Sizzix Sizizlit: Little Leaves.  SU Woograin EF.  Lion Gold Metallic fine yarn. May Arts: Hemp Twine.  Uni-ball Signo White Gel pen.   (Size: 6" square). 

Drum Roll Please. . . A 99th Birthday This Month!!!

My Great Aunt will be 99 years-old this month, and you would never believe it to see her.  In my youth, I remember her as the best dressed person around and an amazing cook as well!  She was quite the seamstress and made beautiful garments for herself with stylish dresses that made her look like she had always stepped out of the pages of a Vogue magazine.  For sure, she looked like she belonged in New York City not in rural California!  Current day is almost the same, although she does occasionally wear slacks with an elegant top or blouse.  

For my aunt, I borrowed a card design by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, My Lil' Scrap Corner, and made this little card displaying a vintage button card with a seamstress slant that I thought my aunt might enjoy.  I tweaked the design just a bit by adding a blue cardbase and using the original white cardbase as a mat layer.  I also hand-embroidered the pink crosses rather than use a sticker picture and slanted my button card just a bit more than the original, but other than that the design replicates the original.  Thanks, Heidi, for the design idea...I love it!

 Recipe:  SU Baja Breeze card stock base.  Papertrey Ink Button Boutique stamp set.  4" Wilton Doily.  SU Jewelry Tag punch. WRMK Corner Deco Chomper.

Valentine Conversation Hearts for Sister!

I wanted to make a card for my sister to give her a hug and the Valentine holiday seemed the perfect time.  I had some Valentine conversation hearts in my stash of embellishments and so wanted to use them.  I also had a "Hugs" ticket that I thought would work in nicely.  I decided on using inchie squares to set the conversation hearts off, and the ideas took off from there. Here is how the card evolved, and it is now on its way to greet my sister with her hug from me.

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific white cs base, Bazzill-In the Pink cs, DCWV Carte Postale stack,  Me & My Big Ideas-Hearts, EK border punch, Jolee's Conversation Hearts; Pink sparkle net (Joanns); K&Co. Hugs Ticket; Pinking Shears.

2012 Christmas Wishes for a Friend

I wanted to make a Christmas card for one of my friends that I worked with for many years and now try to see as often as time allows from both of our busy schedules.  I think hers is busier than mine, as she still works and I'm retired and just busy visiting and making cards!   I was remembering Carla coming in from recess duty (at an elementary school) and going in to get a cup of hot chocolate or tea to get her hands warmed up so she could type again, so I thought this little stamped image of hot chocolate was just the thing for her card.  I wish her and her family a very merry Christmas and hope it is full of good cheer!

My son-in-law celebrates a birthday!

Don has decided to celebrate his birthday today by going camping one last time in Washington before their move to West Virginia!  I don't think the West Virginia humidity will make camping as much fun there, but in Washington, July and August are the very best months to camp...no humidity, of course.  The weather is generally in the low to mid 80s...can't ask for anything better that's for sure!  To celebrate his birthday, I thought a card about camping out be perfect, and here it is:

Happy Birthday Don...enjoy you camping trip!

Graduation Owl Contratulations!

Very late last night, my son contacted me with a brilliant idea (he knows I'm a night owl, LOL).   But, the catch was he needed help with his idea!  Hmm...the question is, should I say yes or no, which is the right answer!  Dumb me, I just don't know how to say no!  Lo and behold...it was a graduation card needed for the daughter of an old friend.  The catch was he needed it by 8:00 a.m. the next morning because that was when they were leaving for Idaho for the graduation.  Guess who was up all night getting this wonderful card done...but, I am really happy with how my little graduation owl turned out:

Your welcome, son!

And, here is the card's decorated inside with verse:

A 2012 Birthday following Easter!

Our daughter, Jackie, was born on Easter Sunday, a number of years ago!  Her birthday sometimes falls within a few days of Easter, as this year--the day after, and sometimes it's several week before or after.   Research tells us that from the time of her birth until 2023, she will not celebrate another Easter Sunday birthday!  Wow that's amazing...over 40 years from her birth!

For daughter Jackie's birthday...the girl with the green thumb.  (Sprout:  Mo Manning digi...perfect for Jackie.  Original card design by Heidi Gonzales).