Living the Life of Riley...

I'd sure like to be living the life of Riley right now... somewhere on a beach, lounging in a hammock, drinking a fruity cocktail... pure bliss! I have to admit that one of the things I do love about living in So Cal in the summer is the beach. There's nothing we enjoy more than to head down to Corona del Mar for the day. You can always find us because we are the people with the most stuff!!! {LOL} You gotta be ready for anything with tons of food, drink, sunscreen, umbrellas, beach towels, toys, boogie boards, chairs, magazines, etc. But it's like a mini vacation, so worth all the effort to get there and set up for the day.

Even better, of course, would be a trip to the Caribbean or Hawaii... or maybe even Florida to visit my sister. I hear the water is warmer there, and the sand is white... unlike our beaches, were the water is cold and the sand is brown. But it's beautiful, and the sound of the ocean waves, and the smell of the salty air are like heaven on earth to me. Oh Paul Honey, I have a great idea about how we should spend Father's Day tomorrow... ha!

Anyway, enough of that daydreaming. I was inspired to whip out my re-inkers and watercolor this Riley beach scene (Hammock Riley Moose). Just about everything you see is from Taylored Expressions Beach Bum Key Ingredients, except for the yellow cardstock, which is Crushed Curry, one of the new In-Colors from Stampin Up. And don't you love the sand? I used Brown Sugar Sparkly Fluff to give it that dimension and sparkle. I love it!

If you love Rileys like I love Rileys, you should click on over to Hanna Stamps. Oh Baby, you won't be disappointed. (Click on Unmounted Red Rubber Stamps and Wood Mounted Red Rubber Stamps in the side menu to find the Rileys.) And while you're there, check out the Hanna stamp sets. Now that I'm in the summer and water fun frame of mind, I might just have to get Ahoy Hanna, or maybe Fun in the Sun, or maybe both!!!

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today. I've been busy with my chores today, so not much time to blog surf, but I'll be by to visit you soon. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Beauty and the Beast

Have you heard of the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge? I've been staying on the sidelines of that challenge until now. The current inspiration challenge is Beauty and the Beast. I LOVE that movie! It's one of my favorite Disney flicks ever. I even love The Enchanted Christmas. So let's just say the inspiration to jump in finally hit!

If you've seen the movie, then you know my card was inspired by Mrs. Potts (voiced by the wonderful Angela Landsbury). I've been wanting to ink up my Papertrey Ink Tea for Two stamp set, so this was the perfect time!

The background was stamped with PTI's Damask Designs, a set created by the very talented Dawn McVey. Dawn just happens to host a weekly color challenge, and my card uses the colors from the June 13th challenge.

The black panel in the back has been run through my CB Textile Texture folder, and I finally used my Stampin Up Top Note Die (inspired by the awesome Michelle Yungbauer, who creates the most gorgeous cards with her Top Note Die). The damask design and the teapot are both heat embossed using Versamark Champagne ink and black detail embossing powder. I love the Champagne ink because it makes the embossed image sparkle. It's hard to see in the picture, but trust me, it does.

All the paper, images and embellishments are from Papertrey Ink.

I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday, how about you? I hope to get some quality time in my craft room this weekend so that I can share more next week than I was able to this week.

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure my blogging friends, and that includes you!

Happy 6th Grade Promotion Avery!

Before I get to yesterday's festivities, I want to share the card I made for Avery's other teacher (he had two this year). Avery really wanted the image to be something that Mr. Ortiz would like. The only thing he knew for sure is that Mr. Ortiz likes to bike. Well, Riley is the only stamp I have with a bicycle image, so that's what we ended up with! Avery was very happy because he loves Riley stamps.

I used Jen's June 6th Sketch for You to Try. Again, I minimized embellishments because this is for a guy. The paper does all the talking, don't you think? I believe it's from Little Yellow Bicycle (came in a kit). The stripped narrow panel is actually from a Gina K set called Ribbon Stripes stamped on Gina's digital paper called Summer Fabrics... a free download on Stamp TV!

I used Smooch Silver to color the silver parts of the bike. That stuff is cool! The rest is colored with my Copics. I didn't get the shading I wanted with Riley, but had to call it good because it was getting late.

I know it doesn't look much like a teacher card on the outside, but I put a nice verse on the inside from Papertrey Ink's Teacher's Apple stamp set.

Avery is now officially out of grade school, and there will be no more Hjulberg boys attending Taft Elementary School. How will the school cope? {LOL} I have to admit I was feeling a bit nostalgic yesterday. When we moved into our home 19 1/2 years ago, the school was still under construction. So many memories. But mostly, such a keen recognition of the passing of time... the end of an era. It's okay, though. A new chapter is ahead, full of surprises and good times.


















Here's a picture of Avery shaking hands with Mr. Ortiz and his other teacher Mr. Plewe (see the tie!) after he'd received his promotion certificate. He also receive a certificate for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, which was totally unexpected. I was so taken off guard, I didn't have my camera ready and totally missed that shot!














And here's a shot of Paul, Avery and I.

Okay, my friends, I've got to get off this darn computer. I've been on all morning, and Paul is starting to despair of me. Chores await.

Have a wonderful day!

Teacher There's No Tie When it Comes to You...

My youngest son Avery is "graduating" from grade school (6th Grade) tomorrow morning. It's sort of a momentous occasion because he is the last of my four boys to leave grade school. My eldest son Ian is 24, and Avery is half his age at 12. We've had a child (or children) attending Taft Elementary School for 15 years (since Ian started 4th grade)... right across the street from our house. Now I'm starting to really feel time passing. (sigh)

Anyway, I've always made gifts for Avery's teachers, and he has been reminding me all week about how I need to get something done for his teachers (he has two this year). Trouble is, they are both men. Somehow I don't think they'd get excited about the handmade scrapbooks and such I've made for his female teachers in the past. Maybe I'm wrong! {LOL} In any case, I told Avery I'd make cards, but perhaps we should give them candy as a gift. He's good with that.

Here's the first card I made:


This is for Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #71. I just love this sketch! And it was so easy to put this card together using TE's Boys Will Be Boys stamp set and Brilliant Key Ingredients, which is apparently sold out. I'm telling you, if you haven't tried Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kits, you're missing out! Taylor has a great eye for putting together just the right cardstock, DP, ribbons and other goodies.

The "Teacher" stamp is from Papertrey Ink's Teacher's Apple stamp set. Inside, I used a stamp from Gina K that says "You're the Best!" So the whole thing reads, "Teacher, there's no tie when it comes to you... you're the best!"

Avery is very happy with this card because his teacher has boasted that he has enough ties to wear a different one every day for a year. Now, that's a lot of ties!

Off I go to make a card for his other teacher. Nothing like waiting until the last moment. I guess I work best under pressure. Ha!

Thanks for stopping by!

Snail Mail

Is it nearly 9:00 pm already? I traveled to Big Bear today with two colleagues for a meeting and to look at some property. It was absolutely gorgeous up there. For those who aren't familiar with So Cal, Big Bear is a mountain resort town about an hour and a quarter from Riverside. It's amazing that less than 60 miles from Riverside you can find yourself in the mountains, or at the beach, or in the desert (think Palm Springs). It's one of our city's claims to fame. (ha!)

Anyway, we had to do a bit of hiking to see the property. I can't claim to be in the best physical shape (shame on me), but I still managed to keep up with everyone. However, I must confess that when I finally got home, I fairly collapsed in my bed. Between the Dramamine I had to take so I wouldn't get motion sickness winding around the mountain roads, and all that fresh (thin) mountain air and physical exercise, I'm exhausted. In fact, I've risen from my bed long enough to make this post, put my jammies on, and back I go! LOL

I've posted the winner of my blog candy here. Thanks to all for entering and for all your kind words of support... but mostly for your friendship. It means so much to me! If I could, I'd send each and every one of you some blog candy!

A quick card to share before I head back to bed.

This is another super cute digi image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. The DP is from SEI. The honeycombed paper is indeed embossed and shiney (in case you noted a bit of a glare). I made the snail's shell look spotted by using my Copic Blender Pen to take away the color, and then ringed the circles with my gold atYou Spica pen for a bit of glitz. I have a feeling I'm going to be moving as slowly as a snail tomorrow when my muscles remind me how out of shape I am! On the to-do list: go to the gym!!!

Thanks for stopping by my friends. I'll be back soon with more to share, and I'll be dropping in to visit you, too!

Sweet Success!

Happy Sunday dear friends! I have a card to share today that I made last night for my nephew. He graduated from Tupelo HS (Mississippi) a couple of weeks ago. I am shamefully behind in sending this (and a few other) cards... but I'm sure Dylan will forgive me when he gets his card and a check. Ha!

I don't often make graduation cards, so I don't have any stamp sets. Fortunately, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has a digital set called Congrats Grad. It seemed like a good time to try The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge.

Since this is going to a young man, I couldn't frill it up too much (which is hard!). I decided to use his school colors, and to try the wax paper background technique Gina demonstrated recently on Stamp TV. It's fun and easy to do, but the More Mustard ink turned yellow on the glossy cardstock. I thought it looked okay, anyway, and sorta brought a third color into the mix.

The yellow dots are Candy Dots (I love those little darlings!). The base is Prisma and a bit more royal blue looking than it appears in the picture. The mat is More Mustard, as are the tag and brads. The DP behind the mortarboard is from the SU Pattern Packs collection (More Mustard), and the grograin ribbons are both from SU.

I need to make one more graduation card, this time in green and orange. I'd better get to it.

Have a happy day!

The Best of Times...

Don't forget... there's still time to enter to win my Blogaversary Candy.

A quick post tonight. I'm tired and I'm going to head up to my room, crawl under the covers, and watch a bit of TV. Sometimes that's what a girl needs to do!

Club Anya had a CASE challenge about a week ago called "I Wanna Be Just Like...". I love those challenges... and I LOVE my new Miss Anya stamps. I used "Shine" for my interpretation of Caz's card:

It's hard to tell in the picture, but the floral embellies are all glittery... they are from K&Company. The DP is from Sassafrass Lass (hearts) and Stampin Up (circle). "The Best of Times" stamp is so old I don't even remember where I got it... I think it was a CKU. I'm surprised I even thought of it when making this card. It was a tiny bit big for the circle, but what the heck.

I made this card for my BFF Susan's teenage daughter Lauren. She is such a doll. She reminds me a little of Miss Anya... petite and sweet! I waited to share until I was sure she had received the card.

Okay, my friends, it's off to my soft, comfy bed for me. I shall return tomorrow refreshed and with another card to share... and more blog surfing to catch up on! Have a great weekend, and thanks SO MUCH for stopping by.

More on Digi Stamps!

If you haven't done so already, check out my Blogaversary Candy opportunity. I sweetened the pot today with a Stampin Up stamp set. Don't forget, you get TWO chances in the draw if you are also one of my Followers.

After mentioning in my last post that Copic markers work perfectly with digi stamp images printed with an ink jet printer, many of you wondered if they'd work with your own method of coloring, such as pencils and OMS (odorless mineral spirits), or watercoloring. So I decided to put it to the test.

First, I tried SU watercolor markers. Nope, they don't work... smeared the printed ink. I have to confess, though, that I rarely use my SU markers because I can't figure out how to blend well with them, and most are too dark. They're great, though, for thumping or coloring directly on your stamps before stamping.

Then I tried Prisma pencils with OMS, and whaddya know... it works great! Here's my card featuring Basket Full of Love, a new digi stamp image from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:

This card is based on the Mojo Monday 89 Sketch Challenge. The cardstock, DP, frame behind the image, and ribbon are all from Brilliant Key Ingredients by Taylored Expressions. The flowers are punched out of the same DP and layered. The little row of stars across the bottom are also punched out of the DP. It's hard to see from the picture, but I put tiny yellow rhinestones in the center of each flower in the basket. I just love a little sparkle. (*wink*)

Then, I tried watercoloring. At first, I tried to watercolor on regular white cardstock, which was not working out... mostly because I tend to be heavy handed with the water, but also because it isn't the right cardstock for watercoloring. It's not absorbent enough, hard to blend, and tends to warp the paper and bleed (at least for me). So I taped a piece of watercolor paper to a larger piece of cardstock and ran it through the printer. Voila!

I haven't watercolored in quite some time, so I tended to get a bit carried away with the water (I used my aqua painter and SU reinkers). Don't look too closely, or you'll see my bleeds. You looked, didn't you? (*chuckle*) Actually, I was reminded about how much I enjoy watercoloring, what a different effect you can get. I tend to go with the instant gratification of Copics, but I shall make a point of watercoloring again soon. The point is, no smear! I assume that if my heavy-handed use of the aqua painter didn't smear the image, then neither will using a watercolor brush.

The cardstock and DP for this card are from the same Brilliant Key Ingredients as above. The edge punch is Martha Stewart. The buttons are from Papertrey Ink (Spring Moss). I poked two holes at the bottom of the basket handle and threaded it with linen twine to make a bow.

I haven't tried blender pens with digi images yet. If I get a chance to, I'll report on that later. But in the meantime, I hope this information is helpful and gets you to try a digi stamp or two. They really are fun and inexpensive. Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps carries several. Check them out!

Thanks for stopping by! I always love to hear from you.