Kind Thanks - FTL 92

This weekend I am playing along with the May VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) at Splitcoaststampers. The theme of the projects is all about flowers. I will be sharing some of those projects with  you next week. Right now, though, I wanted to share another "Fall-To Layout" (FTL) featured at the Clean & Simple Stamping blog. I am really liking these layout challenges. Not only is the layout design work already done, but the layouts force me to try something new and different. The layout for today's project can be found here. And here is my card for the challenge:

This is the layout:

My card was created using stamps from the Touch of Nature and Thank You Kindly stamp sets by Stampin' Up! The images were colored using Prisma watercolor pencils and blended with a blender pen. I think this would be a perfect Thank You card for any man or nature lover in your life. Thanks for stopping by today and having a look! Have a wonderful day!!

My Friend - FTL 91

The next Clean and Simple Stamping Fall To Layout (FTL 91) was posted and I decided to play along again. I had fun with the last layout and this one seemed like it would be just as much fun. The layout required an object that "busts off the card"--something I have never done (how would I get it into an envelope???). Well, since something had to bust off the card and it wasn't going to go into an envelope anyway, I decided to take it one step further and do one of the 3-D flowers that are popping up all over the place on blogs, video tutorials, cards and projects. Here is my project for the challenge:

Here is a close-up of the flower:

The sentiment is from the Blossoms Abound stamp set by Stampin' Up! Here is the layout sketch:

That's my project for today -- clean and simple and busting off the card!! Thanks for stopping by to have a look! Have a wonderful day!

Not Your Typical Graduation Card

The Clean & Simple Stamping blog has "Fall To Layouts" or FTLs, and "Fall To Colors" or FTCs. Today's card is an idea for a graduation card--but not your usual graduation card. Mind you, this card could be adapted to a general graduation merely by substituting school colors.

This card was created to fulfill the FTL90 challenge and, as you can see, was done in patriotic colors and could be used for a young man or woman who has completed boot camp; specifically, I was thinking of Army boot camp. From 1980 to 2001, the Army's recruiting slogan was Be All You Can Be. The sentiment on my card is The Best is Yet to Be. I am not, by this post, supporting war or the events that lead to war. Like it or not, though, these brave men and women have made their career choice--whether it be a lifelong military career or a starting point from which they will have access to other and better opportunities--and that I support. I have several family members and friends who have either served or are currently serving in a branch of the military, and I respect and admire their choice and their many sacrifices. I think it's important to keep this in mind as we near the Memorial Day holiday. Thanks for stopping by today and having a look! Have a GREAT day!!