Show and Tell

One Layer

I seem to be on a real kick of making simple cards. Maybe I'm just getting back to my roots. I've made cards with lots of layers, but my natural tendency is to do things that aren't too fussy.

So — here are a couple of one layer cards. The first one is for Susan Raihala's One-Layer Wednesday challenge that will be expiring when tomorrow arrives. The OLW22 challenge is to make a card for a mother — any mother... doesn't have to be your own. I chose to make one for my next door neighbor who is the newest mother that I know. Her first baby was born just a few days ago.

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I made a card for Teri because I was remembering back to when I was a first time mom and at times it was overwhelming and I seemed to be terribly unequipped for the job. Of course, after I made my decision and finished the card, I reread the challenge and it actually said to make a card of gratitude for a mother-figure in your life. Um.. goofed again. But it's one layer and I'm going to go with my version — instead of a card of gratitude, it will be a card of encouragement to a mom just starting out on the motherhood journey.

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Echoes of Kindness, Well Scripted); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Vintage Cream); ink is Memento (Tuxedo Black); gemstone is from Kaiser (lavender); also used some Copic Sketch Markers for coloring.

The first card could have also worked for my catch-up One-Layer Wednesday Challenge, OLW14: to make a square card using an outline stamp. But, it just didn't seem right to make just one card for the two challenges. One layer cards are harder than it seems like they should be — even for someone like me who prefers non-fussy cards — and I need the practice!

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After I finished this card, I realized that besides using an outline stamp that I used a solid image stamp. Hmmm. I am apparently not very good at reading or following "rules" today. But, it is one layer. And it is square. And it does use an outline stamp — so, I guess it's working for me!

And I decided to use a trick that I used quite often in my scrapbooking days — a wiggly-line frame. Wiggly lines are much less pressure-filled than straight lines, in my opinion. And I'm all about relieveing my life of pressure! Besides... since the stamp had a sort of wiggly line border around it — well, it was the perfectly imperfect way to add a little more interest to the card. 

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Festive Four, Pumpkin Patch, and a really old set that I didn't label); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Rustic White); ink is PTI (Summer Sunrise, True Black); also used Stampin' Up's Basic Black marker.

 

I thought I'd share one photo from my work day, too.

 
This little 3 year old squirrel spent her playground time gathering acorns into the corduroy, blanket-stitched, leaf appliqued pocket on the front of her jumper. What a wonderful picture of autumn! Gotta love the enthusiasm and collection tendencies of preschoolers. Reminded me of when my own little girl was in preschool (at the same place where I now work) and brought home a pocketful of acorns. She meticulously lined them up on her dresser, went to play, and I later found little green worms crawling out of her acorns and all over the top of her dresser. haha. Um... I've never looked at acorns quite the same since. :)

Thanks so much for dropping in today; your visits mean the world to me. See you again soon!

smiles across the miles

 
Today is Stamp Club Day... and since I was in Oregon last month and didn't get to attend, I've been excited for this month's date to come around! You would think that all that excitement would have led to me completing my cards a long time ago, but... no. In typical Janelle fashion, I started last night. I also finished last night... thanks to an quick and easy layout.

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Our theme this month is Halloween — not usually a big card-making occasion for me. But, I did purchase this really cute Stampin' Up set from the Holiday Mini last year. Can't believe it didn't make it into the new catalog. I think it's not just cute, but wonderfully versatile. Maybe I'll have to play with it some more to prove my point. But — that's an idea for another day.

As I like to do for stamp club (always) and on other cards (when I remember), I used an image from the set on the back and signed the card. Usually I date it, too. Didn't realize that I'd forgotten that little detail until just now. Hmph. One more thing to do before I leave for club.

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Pumpkin Patch); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (white) and SU (So Saffron); ink is SU (Only Orange, Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi) and PTI (True Black); also used SU's Square Lattice embossing folder and the Tangerine Tango marker (to sign the back).

Today's already been a busy day.

This morning I participated in a 5K that is held each year in memory of one of our former preschool students who died at the age of five during his TK year with us nearly five years ago now. Tyler passed away just days after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was so fast. So shocking. But this event is such a great way to keep his memory alive while raising money for brainstem glioma research at St. Jude Hospital.

Tyler's family lives in the neighborhood that the church I work at is located in. And it is also where the Tyler's Treehouse 5K and Fun Run is held. The neighborhood turns out and cheers from their front yards. This is the house of one of our former preschool families. It's my favorite one to pass during the race — and we pass it twice.

 
They always have the theme from Rocky blaring — and they keep it on until we come back by the second time. I say that, because I don't participate in this as a race... it's just a good walk for me. And a chance to honor Tyler's memory. And we usually bring up the rear. :)

It's a pretty hilly course. But there is one killer hill.

It may not look too bad in the picture above, but maybe you can get an idea from the one below. The only way that I know to get up it is to put my head down and run. Well — if you can call what I do running.

 
Like I said, the neighborhood really turns out for and celebrates the event.

And, while we were among the last to finish, we think we did improve our time this year by five minutes or so...

 
and that's saying something. Maybe not much, but surely it's saying something. :)

One of the perks to finishing is that some of the sponsors give samples after the race.

You know I didn't mind waiting in this line.

And Ken got his first taste of Pinkberry.

 
But, will he like it?

Oh, yes. I think he will...

and he does! Yippee! Maybe there are dates to Pinkberry Yogurt in my future. :)

So — after the Tyler's Treehouse 5K, I went to Curves. Now my legs feel like rubber. And now it's almost time to leave for Stamp Club. Hope my rubbery legs can operate a motor vehicle! 

I do have some other cards that I can post, so hopefully I'll be back tomorrow. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend!   

  

from our patch to yours

Happy Halloween!

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Well, I couldn't help myself. I had a whole day at home. I put hot spiced cider on the stove. Made banana bread. Made iced pumpkin cookies. Should've cleaned the bathrooms, but instead I made a card — just for you! (And enjoyed all the fabulous aromas coming from my kitchen!)

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Pumpkin Patch); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Kraft, Vintage Cream, Orange Zest) and Stampin' Up (Confetti Cream); ink is PTI(Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate, New Leaf, True Black, Vintage Tea Dye Duo); ribbon, button, and button twine are PTI (New Leaf, rustic); also used Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder for the Cuttlebug, Classic Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Stampin' Up Modern Label Punch, and an orange Kaiser rhinestone.

Thought I'd take a little break from showing you State Fair pictures and share a few from our Halloween.

A few years ago Ken discovered that he could carve a pumpkin with his power tools. That changed his whole attitude toward the task! :)

And here's Jack, all cleaned up, just waiting for it to get dark and for all the fun to begin.

While I was out taking pictures of the pumpkin, guess who showed up?

Tinkerbell!! Oh, how we love having a three year old next door!

Hope your Halloween has been safe and happy! Thanks for taking a little time to come by here!
 

Happy Halloween

Yes, I do know that today is not Halloween — but it seemed an appropriate title for this post. I haven't done much for Halloween for quite a few years now, so this may be the most Halloween-y type of thing that you see from me — but today is Stamp Club and our card swap theme is Halloween, so here's what I came up with.

Since I don't have many Halloween stamps, this card is mostly about the paper and colors. The only stamped part is the sentiment from an old Stampin' Up sentiment set.

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AND TELL:  all is from Stampin' Up unless noted — stamp (All Year Cheer III), cardstock (Only Orange, Lavender Lace, Basic Black, Glorious Green, Creamy Caramel), ink (Basic Black), dies (Bigz Lattice, Sizzlits Lots of Tags Label 1), punches (1" and 3/4" circles), natural hemp, Stampin' Dimensionals; also used orange self-adhesive rhinestones from Papertrey Ink.

So this afternoon is Stamp Club, but here is what I did this morning.

Today was the 4th Annual Tyler's Treehouse 5K run — and while I don't run, I can walk. So that's what we did (Ken, me and two of our preschool teachers, Sheri and Mary.) The event takes place in the neighborhoods around the preschool and besides the 5K there is also a 1 mile fun run/walk with a lot of other activities (swimming, obstacle course, etc.) that children and their families can participate in. 

Tyler was a 5 year old student in our preschool several years ago when he was diagnosed with brainstem glioma, dying just 9 days later. A foundation was started in his memory to raise funds for research into the cause and eventual cure of brainstem glioma. We loved Tyler and we love and admire this family. More about Tyler and the Tyler's Treehouse foundation is here. 

Well, I really need to get ready for Club. Have a fabulous Saturday!!