Roses

Earlier this summer our rose bushes were in full bloom and I enjoyed every bit of it that I could. I started clipping the beautiful pale pink blooms and adding little clusters of fresh flowers around our house.

I snapped this photo and sent it along to my good friend Naki, who used the photo as inspiration to make a gorgeous card! Naturally, she inspired me to make a card as well (although it just took me a lot longer...) 

Before I talk to you about my card, let me just mention how sweet Naki is... Not only did she recently send me her beautiful card to me for my birthday, but a few months ago, she sent me a bunch of crafty goodies, (including the stamp set that I used on this card), as encouragement to start stamping again! The stamps featured here are actually ones that I had been eyeing for a while, so it was extra special to receive them in the mail!

DEEtails:

Paper: Artist's Loft 140# Watercolor Paper, Gold Foil Sheets, Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock, Texture Cuts wood Sheets 

Stamps: Circle Scribble Flowers (My Favorite Things), Perfectly Preserved

Ink: VersaMark

Embellishments: 4mm Marshmallow Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), crepe paper, washi tape (Sugar Paper for Target)

Tools: Pierced Rectangle Stax Die-namics (My Favorite Things), Simply Said Hello die (Avery Elle)

A Cars Card

I'm a bit behind in posting this, but wanted to share anyway... For Father's Day this year, I decided to make a Cars themed card for Hubby. I've mentioned before that our two-year-old loves the Disney Pixar movie, so I thought this would be fitting.

The card I made was pieced together by various punched shapes. I don't make a lot of punch art, but I found this to be quite fun to piece together like a puzzle.

I only had a quick opportunity to snap a photo before the card was discovered and given love from our little girl. She squealed with joy with the prospect of giving the special card to her Daddy (along with a gift bag with a trophy on it, which she proudly announced was a Piston Cup!). In the end, both Daddy and Daughter were thrilled!

DEEtails:

Paper: Basic Black cardstock, Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock, Pacific Point cardstock, Real Red cardstock, Summer Sun cardstock

Stamps: Alphabet Rotary Stamp, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Embellishments: Enamel Stars (Freckled Fawn), Black Licorice Glittered Gumdrops (Your Next Stamp)

Tools: 1/2" Circle punch, 1 3/4" Circle punch, 2" Circle punch, Full Heart punch, Heart to Heart punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Large Oval punch

18 for 2018 Update

As we enter July, I should be halfway done with my 18 for 2018 list. So here's an update!

1. Build LEGO Disney Castle

I go through spurts of building and then not building... but I've made 75% progress on the castle! It's coming together quite nicely!
progress: 75%

2. Find pants that fit and look good for work

I actually ordered some pants from Old Navy and thought that I liked them... But when I went to wear them, I decided I didn't like them as much as I thought. Is this negative progress?

progress: 0%

3. Create artwork for our home

I brought out the canvas that I want to use... That's progress, right?

progress: 5%

4. Get e-mail inboxes to zero

This is big, guys! I've gotten three of my four ginormous inboxes down to ZERO! Hooray! Now all I have to do is tackle my work e-mail.

progress: 75%

5. Konmari

I'm going to say I'm about 50% done with this one. My house feels about 50% lighter. Is that a good assessment?

progress: 50%

6. Make a card organizer

Honestly, I haven't even thought about this one...
progress: 0%

7. Paint a room or closet

When I wrote my 18 for 2018 list, I was really excited for this one, but my hubby keeps telling me how ridiculous this is. I've been trying to look at paint colors and recently got the okay to paint our hall closet - the tiniest and least obtrusive space in our home, so it's a go! 
progress: 0%

8. Read 4 new books
Believe me when I tell you that I am a slow reader. So I'm pretty proud of my progress on this one. I finished my first book and am almost halfway into my second book. 
progress: about 35%

9. Start Project Life

Still waiting on #15.
progress: 0%

10. Sell stamps and craft supplies

Now that summer is here I'm really going to focus on this. I promise!

progress: So far, only 5%

11. Clean the attic

Nope.

progress 0%

12. Make something from Pinterest

Still thinking on this one...
progress: 0%

13. Complete an ASCA course

Oh, I kind of forgot about this one... Oops! I need to just sit down and whip this out.

progress: 50%

14. Finish 2016 & 2017 photo books

Nothing new here...

progress: 12.5%

15. Set up the Craft Room/Office

My hubby also recently hung up my ribbon racks, which has really gotten me itching to start crafting again! Next up is hanging my pegboard, figuring out a system for my punches, and organizing my stamps. It's coming along! Hooray!
progress: I think about 50%!?

16. Make 12 cards

I have officially made 2 cards! Woohoo! 
progress: 17%

17. Organize my School Counseling Curriculum

Right now, I'm in the midst of rearranging all the furniture in my office to make space for a second counselor. So although I actually making pretty decent progress on this on the last update, it's been at a bit of a standstill right now. I'm confident that I'll be completely done with this by the end of the summer. 
progress: still about 30%ish

18. Write 18 blog posts Change my name

I decided that I needed to change this. Since completing the 18 items on my list is the whole point of 18 for 2018, it seemed silly to have one the items write about them as I complete them. I decided to revise this to change my name because this really was a goal of mine this year and I felt like it was getting ignored because of this list. My hubby and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary at the end of the year, and I think it's about time that I take his name. After all, 10 years seems pretty official, right? I've made the decision and printed out the paperwork that I need to complete, so I'm going to go with 25% progress! Ha!

progress: 25% 

Last time I posted a similar long and boring post about my 18 for 2018 progress, I got a huge burst of energy (accountability!) and got to work on a bunch of stuff. So here's hoping for another burst! And thanks again for the accountability :)