Graduations Mean Summer is ALMOST Here

Hi Friends! It's been way too long since my last posting,our summer is nearly here. We've had lots of celebrating going on which for a crafter means cards, projects and ideas galore. I've celebrated family and 8th grade graduations, birthdays then high school graduations  for both family and friends. I love all the parties and celebrations, how about you? 
The photos above are oldies...2004. Yes Mikeal, we were all rooting for you when you graduated! Look how young you looked Mike :)

Ok so to start of all the graduate activity here is my darling granddaughter Megan graduating from 8th grade. We're so proud of you Megan!

With all the whirl of activity I've been visiting one of my favorite sites for ideas, Pinterest. Do you Pinterest? If you love it as much as I do be sure and follow me and follow the boards that interest you :) I love it and spend way too much time surfing and sharing ideas there. These days it usually is where I begin with a project or even to develop my ideas...I always say "one good idea leads to another" :) So please let me share with you my recent crafts.

Megan's Card

Megan's card is created from a stamped design and hand watercolored.

Just because I love sowing off my sweet grandkids I 'm throwing in a pic of my grandson Evan who was really quite ready to leave the ceremony...

now please?

Kendall's High School grad card

We also celebrated with our friends the Liu's...their daughter Becky graduated from High School and they through a party for her. Her mom Lisa made these incredible crepes from scratch...I didn't take pictures but I sure wish I had...for two reasons.Lisa's creps and all the toppings were really something AND she also made an incredible tribute wall out of photos for Becky. Below is the card I made for Becky.

Beckys card 

Our friends the Zenes's also had a graduate...Way to go Carter!! Here is the card i made for him.Shhhh I haven't got it mailed to him yet. They stopped by the day I was making the cards, LOL. 

Carter's Grad card
My grandnephew Andy graduated High School this year, we're so proud of you Andy!

I had fun making his card- Sorry I forgot to take a picture and this one was taken at the celebration.  I also made a photo album for his High School memories and I also missed taking pics but thanks to Tatiana, here are a couple photos.

Since making these there have been even more celebrations and fun reasons to create but for now I hope you enjoy seeing what I've been up to and reading my post.

Happy 4th of July!!

Firecrackers and picnics, barbeques with smoky scents~ the family dog running through the yard.. lots of children splashing about while adults gather to tell stories of the past and present! Of course it also creates a "reason" to craft...As if we crazy crafty folks NEED a reason LOL!

Today I thought I'd share a few fun crafty things... Some of my cards...

I love this big "foamie" Flag stamp!

This tiny flag stamp is really fun to use with the "colored marker technique.

Two old favorites, corregated paper and dot alphabet stamps :)

 

 4th of July and food just go hand in hand...

Look at this yummy looking pie...mmmm!

 

Mmmm! Watermelon! Au Natural

 

or gussied up!

How does your family celebrate?

Whatever your plans are...Wishing you all a safe and Happy July 4th! Thinking about the many freedoms we enjoy I hope to always remember they were not "free" but were the efforts of many men and women, boys and girls who came before us and paved the way for us in this land we love. May we always be known as "The Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave"!

 

Using "MY DIGITAL STUDIO" ~ My First Card

Why would I want to digitally create a greeting card? Let's see...I could answer:

• Because I love using my computer to bring my artistic thoughts to life.
• Because  I want to prove to myself that I can.
• Because  I want to be able to show others how to do it.
• Because  I want to add embellishments to my final card.
• Because IF I decide I want to have my card mass printed, I can.
• Because I can put away all my supplies in a FLASH, Woo-hooo!

ALL TRUE STATEMENTS!

If I think of any other reasons, I'll let you know.  It's fun to challenge myself and see all the wonderful ideas and the many possibilities.I can make many variations so easily.  I used a stamp design from the set "Always". I used a paper from another digital artist, Christina Bartholomew. It is from her set called Siblings..Background 10.

Here's my card.  This first card is a 4.25 x 5.5 " card because I wanted to keep to a familiar format of my handstamped and punched card art.  You will be seeing three photos.  The front.  The inside greeting portion and the back of the card. I'd love to hear your comments and see some of your digital ideas too.