Sweetwater Designs

::: Birds Galore :::

It has been a while since I took the time to browse the many challenges on Splitcoaststampers so I decided to do some much needed catching up while I enjoyed my morning RockStar. I enjoyed all the sneak peaks from the Stampin Up Convention, I cannot wait until my order arrives today... my preorder catalog and new In Colors will be arriving today.

I stumbled upon the Featured Stamper challenge. Sadly enough I have not participated in this challenge in such a long time... I think my last attempts with this challenge were shortly after I was featured back in the beginning stages of this challenge. I am hoping to visit this challenge for some Monday morning stamping in the upcoming weeks, I enjoyed browsing the galleries and seeing what was inspired by a single stamper.

::: { Featured Stamper # 70 YLM

You can view FS70 challenge by clicking here. Be sure to stop by her gallery, she has so many fun ideas. I found this card here, and thought it would be a fun card to send to my grandmother. She has been battling a difficult auto-immune disease for the last few years and I wanted to send her a thoughtful card to tell her how much her strength and courage has encouraged and inspired us all.

::: { Supplies } :::

Stamps: Birds Galore, Warmest Regards, Totally Cool, Priceless

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pink Passion, Cool Caribbean

Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Basic Black, Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal

Other: White Gel Pen, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon, Black May Arts Ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Black Journaling Pen

::: Busy Little Bees :::

The last few days have been so ::: { hot and dry... it has been difficult to get in the yard and enjoy doing much. We are also surrounded with smoke from all the surrounding fires. Yesterday was the first day that I noticed just how bad the effects had gotten. I wondered in my bedroom for a pair of socks and was instantly in a panic at the smell of smoke... I walked around checking this and that just to be sure. As I looked around outside I saw nothing, just the scent of the distant fires but it smelled as if it could have been from my home or my neighbors.

Though it seems I cannot find the motivation to get out in the  yard and do some much needed work... it appears as though the little bees outside are just as busy as ever. The bee balm has bloomed, it sits at the base of our front steps, most days I enjoy sitting on the porch watching the bees labor away.

We have always told our kids how important the bees are for the flowers and vegetables. We have taught them not to fear them, to value them and the work they do, and to leave the bee and let them work uninterrupted. Yesterday's events made my heart giggle } :::... just a little.

Keenan came in the house yesterday crying "Mom, they are not nice like you said. It stung me!!" and the tears continued to fall. After calming him down I asked him to explain what happened... he explained that he saw one of our worker bees stuck in the water on the slip and slide... "he couldn't fly mom, I was afraid he was going to drown". He explained, he tried to pick him up and move him to a safe spot in the sun so he could dry off and get back to work.

::: { Always remember the beauty of the garden, for there is peace } :::

::: Tayllar :::

::: { Tayllar } :::

Tayllar, my beautiful 9 year old daughter is a girl of many talents. Most of her time is spent following her dreams to dance. She loves just about any kind of dance, she has done a variety of competitive solos and duets over the last 5 years ::: lyrical, hip hop, jazz, clogging, and a little ballet. Every year she amazes me with just how far she grows, she works very hard and is very self motivated and it definitely shows in her achievements. This year she plans to expand her activities to include gymnastics.

She has been spending quite a bit of time in the stamping room over the last week. She inherited some of the scrapbook paper I have purchased in the past that I will clearly never use. I look at some of the paper and think ::: what was I thinking? ::: But she was tickled to receive some many fabulous pages. She instantly got out a few of her punches, some decorative scissors and starting making cards. She spent countless hours in here creating, when we all got ready for bed we were suprised with cards on our pillows... such a sweetheart }:::

::: Sympathy # 2 :::

::: { Supplies } :::

Stamps: Gods Blessings

Cardstock: Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, Whisper White, designer paper from the local scrapbook store (I will edit post later to include info about the paper)

Ink: Jet Black Stazon

Other: May Arts Ribbon, Offray My Moments Petite Gems, Silver Brads, 1/4" Circle Punch SU, 1/2 " Circle Punch SU, Marvy  Oval and Scalloped Oval, Large Oval Punch SU, Cuttlebug Dots (will double check name and edit post)