A card that became a RAK

This weekend's challenge at Stampin' Addicts is to upload cards to the gallery. With folks busy adding their latest beauties, I noticed some long-retired sets weren't getting any love. So I combed my computer files and found this, the first card I made with my beloved set Seeds of Kindness.

Simple as it is, I never could part with it. Then in 2006, one of the ladies on SplitCoast Stampers asked for RAKs for her mom, who was gravely ill and seemed to have given up. My Seeds of Kindness card went postal.

Joanne was so sweet--she gushed over my little RAK as much as she did over the many elaborate confections that more experienced stampers sent.

And, curiosity piqued by what the next day's mail might hold, Joanne's mom rallied. In the end, her family enjoyed a number of months more with her.

In December 2008, Joanne died suddenly.

I never met Joanne, other than in cyber-space. But looking at this reminds me of what a devoted daughter and sweet person Joanne was.

I'm glad my card became a RAK.

Happy Mirthday, May Babies!

Are you a May baby? Well then, today is your mirthday!

In case you haven't heard of mirthdays (which is likely, since I just declared the first one today), it's the first day of your month of birth.

Your birthday, of course, falls on the anniversary of your date of birth. But, in this day and age, how many times does everyone celebrate with you on that exact day?

Cards come early, phone calls come late, the family gets together on the weekend and friends ask to squeeze in coffee, lunch or drinks whenever mutual schedules permit. Your birthday is just one day, but the festivities bubble over into the rest of the month.

So, heads up, May babies: May 1 is your mirthday and your party's getting started!

Yum, Yum, Yum!

This weekend, I worked on a big batch of cards for my niece, who started studying French this year.

Here's a sample of what I made using the set En Ovale from the new 2009 SU! Spring Mini.

Don't these colors remind you of Neapolitan ice cream? Or maybe strawberry-dipped soft-serve cones from the Tastee Freez? Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose and Sahara Sand--my new favorite color combo!

Mocha's vital statistics

Here's the inside of Mocha's adoption announcement, with all the Mocha stats you've always wanted.

Announcing. . . . Miss Mocha MOO!

We have a new li'l bundle of fur!

Mocha Macchiato (or Mocha MOO!, as we like to call her) joined the pack on February 6. It's been non-stop fun and games around here ever since. Sometimes more games than fun, but we can talk about that later. . . .

In any event, Mocha's special flying donut--which she immediately chewed holes in--inspired this card. Doesn't the Pink Pirouette/Green Galore combo make your inner preppy wanna pull out the Izod shirts from the back of your closet?

Thanking the Babes

This was my 'thank you' note to a wonderful group of ladies called the Birthday Babes. They gave me an art supply shopping spree--now I just have to decide what to get!

The card was done on Tangerine Tango cardstock with a retired Stampin' UP! set, Touch of Nature. The sentiment is from Sincere Salutations, stamped on Naturals Ivory and layered on Basic Grey. The butterfly was colored with a Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write marker and spritzed with Pearl Ex.

Thank goodness for my SU! papersnips; trimming the butterfly would have been a chore without that sharp little devil. . . .

Moose on the Loose!

I'm working on open house invitations. Wanted something warm and cozy--and easy! The obvious answer: Moose. And flannel.

Showed this to my stamping friends yesterday, and one of them told me there was actually a moose loose on the freeway in her town today (Twin Cities, not north Texas).

Coincidence? I think not.

Here moosey moosey moosey! Here moosey moosey moose!