Graduation Cards to very Special kids

Every year there is a need for a fresh batch of cute, sassy, male and female graduation cards, right?  This year, it seems like I have a special connection with each graduate.  Proud of each Facebook Graduation photo that comes across my screen like they were my own.  Kids I have known since birth or were in my ministry from early days.  Kids who were in Sunday School classes or small groups I taught, or children's choirs I lead.  This makes each card very special. Here are the stories behind each card.

For Kevin:  a talented, funny, charming young man who is going to go far in life.  I love his mom and dad and siblings .. and Him, like they were FAMILY.  They've been there for me through thick and thin.  I loved having Kevin in several musicals I directed, and then as a Jr. Higher and High Schooler, I snagged him several times to play drama parts in our KidStuf productions at 1BL.  Oh how I miss him!  Way to Go Kevin!   You indeed ROCK! (Stampin Up stamps and paper)

For Mollie.... Mollie lives in Georgia and I don't know her as well as I'd like because I moved away from that area when she was just a 5 year old, but her parents are very special people to me.  In fact, if it wasn't for her parents, Dave and Liz, I would not have Stephen as my son!  Long amazing story for another day!  Mollie is extremely bright and right now is in Paris celebrating her graduation with her dad!  So I would say she has much to rejoice about!  Congratulations Mollie!  (Stampin up paper and Taylored Expressions stamps)

For Caroline:  Caroline's mom is one of my best friends, and has been an integral part of my ministry since 2000, so I've watch Caroline grow up pretty close up.  She was in a small group of 6th grade girls that I discipled on a weekly basis and that was such a privilege!  This gal is amazing!  Her parents have taught her to be a servant.  She has overcome obstacles that most of us will never experience.  She is off to Wheaton College in Chicago and for a SoCal kid that is a big deal.  Did I mention how smart she is?  This card means:  wow, you really stand out !!!  You are one of a kind!  You are amazing!  (Stampin Up paper and Michaels $1.00 stamp!)

For Katie:  Katie's mom and I have been friends since BEFORE Katie was born!  Katie's older brother was in the very first preschool class that I ever taught, and now he is in his mid 20's!  Katie's older sister, Breanna is one of my daughter's very good friends when we lived in Atlanta.  I have loved staying at Katie's house when going back to Atlanta for a visit.  She's a spitfire ball of energy, beauty, poise, and talent.  Her parents are amazing godly people who have done a great job of raising 3 very unique kids and pointing them in the direction God has intended for them.  So this card represents the amazing places Katie will head to in her future.  I'd like to think that book is the Word of God, and from it, the places we are headed are nothing short of adventurous and exciting! Happy trails Katie! (Stampin up paper and Taylored Expressions stamp and trim)

Thanks for looking!  Blessings to each of my young friends graduating from High School, Middle School, and College this month! Wow, I wish I didn't feel so old! :)

Discover Your Wings Dear Friends!

For my dear Friends Mike & Kim who just left California a few days ago to move to Texas. We've been friends for more than 25 years, and it just won't ever be the same without them here as a part of our church and my life. They were such amazing servants of God over the years, but mostly, they were and always will be forever friends. I can't wait to go visit them in Wylie and see where God has placed them for the next part of their journey. Missing you guys so much! Praying you are getting settled and are already seeing God's faithfulness in your new home.


Card (for Taylor's Challenge #TESC118) uses Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Vellum Cardstock (SU!) Chocolate Chip and So Saffron Ink, the paper piercer and matt pack, DCWV Retro Prints paper, the Big Shot Top Note Die from SU!, and the Fiskars Border Punch. The stamp set is called "Discover Your Wings" from Taylored Expressions. The lace trim is also from TE. LOVE THAT TRIM! Reminds me of all the little dresses my mom made for all my sisters and I when we were growing up.

I Love It When This Happens!

I've had some good stamping time the past week or so.... and I even had time t straighten up my desk area. After grabbing up some fun new items at CHA, it was fun to get some stamping time. Here are a few things to share with you. The Sewing card was made for a very sweet family at church, the Streelmans, who are sadly moving to Portland. I am in LOVE with their 2 little girls Becca and Natalie and am so sad to see them go. Karen was one of our brand new helpers in Children's Choir and it was so fun getting to know their family and getting to serve alongside of them at church. The good news is, it's always good to have friends who live in fun places so we can go visit them! Card Details: Kraft card base, retired designer paper, sewing machine, buttons, Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Puns from the Past SU Stamp Set (stamped in Chocolate Chip Ink), Twill ribbon, twine from Paper Trey Ink, Pirourette Pink SU cardstock for the scalloped oval and some old buttons from my stash.

The Polka Dot Thank You card was super easy but super fun. It's just a bunch of "Bold Bright" circles punched with my various circle punches, and glued to white cardstock. The bottom of the front panel was cut with wiggley scissors, and then the words "Thank You" from the retired SU stamp set called "Wonderful Words" was stamped on the back inside of the card so it shows when you close the card. I made a bunch of these to keep on hand because they were so fun and so easy.

Thanks for looking!

Parisian Quilt Card

First of all, let me share something with you that was NOT made by me... a beautiful gorgeous, quilt given to me by a wonderful family at my church.

This was a thank you gift for working these past few years with their son in my children's choir program, our Wed. night club program, etc. They wanted to express their appreciation for my time and love. Wow! I was/am overwhelmed! I have made one quilt in my life, when I was in my 20's, and it didn't turn out too well. I was proud of it, but it was far from perfection. So I know how much time and energy this took. When I make cards for people, or small handmade paper-crafting gifts like photo frames, candy tins, etc, they might take 1-2 hours per item... 3 at the most, but a QUILT? Seriously? I can't even imagine how much time this took. Here's another view... every square is DIFFERENT! How amazing is that?

So now, here's my card, made with the Quilter's Sampler set from PaperTreyInk , which has been on my wish list for a very long time. I kept wavering back and forth, waiting for the wallet to cooperate. Well, obviously, when I received this quilt, I knew I had to have this set to make a thank you card, right? I know quite a few quilters, so I know I will get a lot of use out of this set. I also got the additional phrases, called "Quilters Sampler Sentiments," and boy, oh boy, are there a ton of sentiments in these 2 sets.

The base of the card is Kraft cardstock from Stampin Up, then a layer of Parisian Breeze designer paper. The quilt images are stamped on Vanilla paper, and then layered onto Baja Breeze, and colored with a combination of Copic makers and SU markers. Some piercing, some faux stitching, and a button (tied with PaperTreyInk's new rustic twine!) completes the project. I'm anxious to get this into the mail to this sweet family... and even though my card didn't take as many hours to make as their wonderful gift to me, it is still filled with love and appreciation!

Elegant Wedding Shower

My friends at work and I are giving a bridal shower next week for our Youth Pastor's Bride-to-be, Lauren. We're going with a red rose theme... elegant and classic. Here are the invitations and the wedding dress favors.

The invitations are made with SU Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, and vellum, as well as the rose paper from "The Paper Factory." The scalloped trim is made from a pearlized shimmery paper from Michaels, punched with the Martha Stewart lace punch. The beautiful red swirly ribbon is from the TayloredExpressions store! I love it... it adds just the elegance I was looking for. The Bible verse, I Corinthians 13 is from the SU set, "Elegant Inspirations." This is a pocket card and the actual invitation was printed on regular white cardstock, front and back, and then the corners were rounded with the corner rounder, with a black sheer ribbon on the top, attached through a round 1" circle folded over the top.

The wedding dress favors are also from Taylor's store... they come flat, and I found them quite easy to stamp on and fold up. I used some swirly stamps I believe I got at Michael's, with Real Red ink and more of the swirly red ribbon. Inside the dresses are a few pieces of Dove Chocolate. Then I folded in the side and attached them together with a dimentional. I'll be sure to post some photos in a few days of the shower, so you can see the whole thing all put together. My friend Michelle is doing the flower centerpieces, so it's going to be gorgeous!

Friendship and Cheesecake... Life Is Good!

This past Saturday I had lunch with 3 friends from High School. That may not sound very unusual to most people, but it is for me. We've been out of high school 32 years, and for the past 29 of those years, I have not kept up with any of the 3 ladies that I had lunch with. But the Lord reconnected us and I'm so glad He did. We had a class reunion 2 years ago, but 2 of these gals, Isabel and Laura weren't able to come, so I haven't seen them in a long time. I don't think I've seen Laura since High School, or maybe the 10 year reunion. Isn't is amazing that you can live relatively close to someone and not see them for that many years? We met at Cheesecake Factory in Brea because it was fairly central for all 4 of us... Rancho Cucamongo, Irvine, Norwalk, and me in Lakewood. Great food, yummy cheesecake, and wonderful laughter, tears, and a sweet time of reflecting on all God has done and is doing in our lives. My hope is that God continues to allow me to reconnect with the people from my past in order to be an encouragement to them, as they are to me.

From left to right that's me, Laura (Calderon) Isabel (Pina) and Cyndy (Porraz). 50 (or close to it for some of us!) and fabulous, don't you think???!!!!!

Sneaking up to Montrose

I tried to surprise my friend Mike Saturday night with a trip up to Montrose to see our buddies Byron, Darrin and Darrin's wife Kathy, and their 3 kids. (Byron's wife Brenda was out of town.)

I say "Tried" because after getting a little turned around (i.e. lost) with our directions I had to tell Mike where we were going so he could help us get there relatively on time. We were trying to get to Montrose Church in time for the 6:30 service, where Byron leads worship and Darrin is the Associate Pastor, but were were about 10 minutes late, so we missed most of the worship set. Bummer. We still had a wonderful time, and after the service, headed over to Glendale to a very fun outdoor plaza shopping center "extravaganza" place called "Americana." Gorgeous place! Tones of shops and restaurants, all in a big square with fountains, statues, and even a playground for the kids! Dinner, laughing, great conversation, jazz music in the background, beautiful atmosphere... doesn't get much better than that!!!!!

It was so great to see some of my favorite kids in the world, Megan, Kevin and Connor, and love on them for the evening, and get caught up with my sweet friend Kathy. And P.S... it was hysterical to watch Mike giving Byron lighting advice inside their worship center... Mike just can't help himself! I think he does this in his sleep! It was a super fun way to spend a Saturday evening!