Thoughts of a Grasshopper

VC Rocks is having a blog hop this weekend.  If you go to the VC Rocks blog , you can see the work of many talented stampers.  The theme of the swap is to use punches, simply scored or the big shot.  I went with the big shot. Stamps:  By the Tide, Banner Greetings, Hearts a Flutter CS:  VV, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar Ink:  Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar (stamped off once), Crisp Cantaloupe Misc.:  Fancy Fan EF, dimensionals, dazzling diamonds Thanks for stopping by.

We went to graduation this year to celebrate with a couple of Seniors.  It was a good graduation with quite a few speakers.  The night was breezy, which I was grateful for because it has been warm and the humidity has started to increase. We got them a couple of gift cards each to places around here.  I made the mortarboard gift holders.  I would have put some truffles they would have melted in the heat.  I bought some tassles at Hobby Lobby.  I had to extend them with some embroider floss.  I didn't have any black brads so I took the vintage brads I had and used VersaMark and black embossing powder.  It works in a pinch.

This is block 5 of the Ramblin' Rose Meets Jamestown quilt.  I like having a block a month to work on.  I just signed up for another block a month that is a 10-month program for a quilt called "Mill Girls".  I'm really looking forward to working on it and reading the writings of some girls who worked there and what life was for them.

OWH is a wonderful organization that sends cards to our military that are deployed so they can write and stay connected with their family.  This group is near and dear to my heart due to our experiences in the military and knowing how much it means to have that mail on both ends.  When my husband was deployed, our kids looked forward to the times they could share a little of what was going on in their lives and know their dad was okay.  I'm grateful for those that serve and have served our great country. I made this card using sketch challenge 160 from OWH. Stamps:  Service & Sacrifice, The Brave & the Free CS:  Night of Navy, Real Red, WW Ink:  Stazon Jet Black, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Night of Navy Misc.:  Chevron EF, dimensionals, watercolor brush, star punch *I forgot to put the star on to the left of the sentiment.  I will have to take a picture later.  My husband has patiently waited for me...

I saw this card on Pinterest and LOVED it.  I ended up making it to mail off for Mother's Day.  I CASEd it from Debra Currier .  The Bright Blossoms stamp set really makes some cute, happy looking cards. Stamps:  Bright Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight CS:  WW, Summer Smooches DP, Lucky Limeade Misc.:  Bright Buttons, rhinestone, scallop punch, designer frame EF

I mentioned back in January that I have started a "Saturday Sampler" quilt with a local quilt shop.  The pattern is called Ramblin' Rose Meets Jamestown .  I thought I would share what I've completed so far.  The quilt will have 12 sampler blocks that were named to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, VA and 24 log cabin blocks.  New Colony  Roanoke Island  Discovery  Virginia Settlement For the log cabins, I started off with 4 pieces sewn together to start the block and had the remaining strips laid out so I could grab them easily and keep on sewing.  I'd never sewn a log cabin block before and a friend told me it is better to do them at once because you have to think about what you are doing.  With this method, I was able to leave them and come back to it a week later and pick up where I left off. Log Cabin I have to admit I was happy when I finished that 24th log cabin block.  I...

I needed cards for thank you notes and I sent them off to arrive just before Valentine's Day, so I decided to use the Greeting Card kids set.  What you can't see from this picture is the letterpress template I used on the vanilla cardstock, stamped with VersaMark.  I saw a similar card on Pinterest and went with the design and colors.  The card I saw was a little more snazzy but I needed it to be flat enough to mail and the flowers on the other card were too 3D for the mail unless a bubble envelope was used. Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids and Hand-Penned Holidays CS:  Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, VV Ink:  VersaMark, Stazon Black Misc.:  Flower Punch, 2-1/2" circle punch, Large Delicate Doilies sizzlet, dimensionals, Fancy Fan Letterpress, Basic Pearl, mini Glue Dots