Merry Christmas ~ MM63

The best things about Monday is that Lesley has a new sketch for all of us at Merry Monday.

My stack of cards for this coming holiday season is getting quit big now thanks to all of Lesley's wonderful challenges.

For my card this week I used papers by Crate Paper from the snowy day collection along with a die cut tree from my stash, sentiment is by PTI and the gems are by Studio Calico.

Now don't forget to check out what the rest of the design team created. Hope you play along with all of us.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

Project Life Week 19

Almost forgot to post my Project Life this week. Things have been a little crazy here.

Two Page Layout.

Side One

Not many people pictures this week. Justin got his Lynx season tickets which I did a two layer spread on. I cut my paper to 6x8 and adhered my stuff to it and then I cut it down to fit the three different pockets it would go on.

Side Two

For my pages I used April and May Studio Calico kits, stamps from Stamp Your Life, LLC and my stash.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me.

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

water babe

Friday and that means a new release by Tammy over at A Day for Daisies.

This week it is all about mermaids. I have two cards to share with you this week because when I finished my first one I wasn't really happy with it and wanted to try again.

So this was my first attempt.

And this is my second card using the same image. I am really happy with how this one turned out.

Make sure to stop over at the ADFD blog and check out what the rest of the design team came up with this week and to also see all of the new images in this weeks release.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

hey girlfriend

I had time this morning to play along on a couple of challenges and wanted to share that card with you.

I am entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp challenge 'flower power'.

I am also entering this into this weeks challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me.

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

let's be merry ~ MM62

Lesley over at Always Playing with Paper has another awesome new sketch for us this week at Merry Monday.

For my card I used paper and miscellany from the October Afternoon 'make it merry' collection, sentiment is by Ali Edwards and the gems are by Studio Calico.

Check out the Merry Monday blog and see what the rest of the design team created this week.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me.

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

pool party

Happy Mothers Day to all of you my blog buddies.

I have a quick card to share with you using a new and my current favorite digital image by Lori Boyd called 'lollipop tube dude Taylor'. I am going to warn you now as you will probably see a lot of this little guy in the coming months.

Enjoy your day. I am going to spend my day just playing in the craftroom working on some scrapbook layouts and maybe making a mini album or two.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me.

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

birthday wishes

A quick card to share this morning that I created for this weeks challenge over at "less is more".

This week they want to see "coloured card blanks" no white, no natural, no kraft and no black card fronts. Well for me that is a challenge. The second part is we have to do a one layer card and I am so not good at that.

For my card I used my new stamp set that my son got me for Mothers Day along with some Tim Holtz stickers and my trusty water color paints that I use on my scrapbook layouts.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me.

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

mother loves me

This weeks new releases over at A Day for Daisies is all about Mom.

For my card I used the image "mother loves me". I just love this image and it was perfect for paper piecing which is my favorite way to use digital images.

I used papers from the Crate Paper 'DIY Shop' collection and ribbon from my stash.

Make sure you stop over at the ADFD blog and check out what the rest of the design team created with this weeks new release.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

Project Life ~ Week 18

Can't believe we are already into week 19 of the new year. I finished week 18 of Project Life and am happy to report that I am still managing to keep current each week.

Here is a look at the two page spread. This week included Micah and Cassie spending the night along with Micah and I spending a day together while his parents were at work and a roadtrip for Justin and I while Joe stayed home to take care of "Birdie".

Here is a look at Side One. We had some crazy weather this week. We finally saw some warm weather for a day and the next day we had snow. Only in Minnesota does this happen.

Here is a close up of a couple of my cards. Besides using cards from my Studio Calico Project Life kit and Becky Higgins products I also make some of my own cards. The other is a photo that my friend Pam sent me of her Dogwood trees.

Side Two includes lots of photos from our road trip. It was a bad week for Weight Watchers, but we had some excellent food. From the photos you see the pool and slides and then once you think tropical you notice the temp was 36 degrees and rain all 3 days we were gone.

Here is a closer look at a couple of the cards for this side. These burgers were fantastic as were my sweet potato puffs.

A closer look at one of the pools and one of the slides. They had 3 indoor pools at this water park.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

mommy & me ~ BLD46

It is time for a new challenge over at By Lori Designs and this time we want to see cards with a Mother's Day theme. So pick your favorite image by Lori and start creating.

For my card I used this adorable Sugarstick image called "I love you Grammy" from the Valentine collection that was released earlier this year!

I used a Pebbles basics cardmaking pad for the base of my card along with stickers by Tim Holtz and Fancy Pants designs and some of my handmade wrinkle ribbons.

Our challenges run for two weeks so I sure hope you play along with us. Please stop over at the blog and check out what the rest of the design team did with this challenge.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

our girl

I have a quick layout to share with you that I created using the May sketch over at Artful Delight. I am no longer on the DT but thought it would be fun to play along with them and use the scrapbook sketch for a baby album I am working on.

Love the sketch and had so much fun picking out papers to use. I used papers by Echo Park along with my paints for splatter.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

happy holidays ~ MM61

Monday, so time for a new sketch by Lesley over at Merry Monday. To say I love this sketch would be an understatement!

As soon as I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

I used a big snowflake embossing folder by Sizzix and added some bling in a few places along with a rub-on sentiment by Making Memories.

Make sure you stop over at the blog and check out what all of our talented design team members created along with our guest designers.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

Project Life ~ Week 17

I am still enjoying my Project Life layouts each week even though some weeks I feel like it looks the same as the last week.

Here is the full two page spread. 

The left side. I took a road trip up to North Dakota to visit my sister who is currently in a nursing care facility recooperating after falling a few days prior. Our weather was crazy that week we had one day in the 80's after getting tons of snow a few days prior.

Here is a close up shot of my week 17 card along with that great winter card that I got from my friend Smitha Katti on Facebook. This definitely shows a pie chart of the Minnesota Seasons.

Micah is learning how to roller blade and really enjoys it. I like to sew on a few pages of each of my Project Life spreads and usually do it to the alpha stickers I use. Notice Dad in his t-shirt with the snow in the background.

The drive home from my sisters was a little scary as I drove through a blizzard that lasted about 30 minutes. It came out of nowhere and then was gone. I couldn't see the cars in front of me and the semi truck/trailer in front of me was wobbling all over the place.

I got the most wonderful stamp from my friend Mari who owns Stamp Your Life, LLC., It was one of her custom wooden stamps. I had mentioned to her once that I would love to have a stamp to use in all my Project Life albums at the beginning that said The Eckblads est. 1975 and she sent me one.

Here is the right side and you can see the picture with all the snow. And my weekly weather shot that I take on my phone. This side also shows Elsie Rae's birth announcement and of course pictures of Micah and Cassie who spent the night so their Mom and Dad could have a date night.

Here is a close up of the 9 or 10" of snow we got.

My Nephew Ben was in Paris this week for work and sent us a post card of the city. It was too long so I cut it apart and put it into 3 of the 3x4 sleeves.

Well that is all I have for week 17, but will be back again next week. Justin and I are heading out to Sioux Falls, South Dakota tomorrow for a Little People of America Spring Regional convention.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me.

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

hello - wild nymphs

It's Friday and that can only mean one thing! We have a new release over at A Day for Daisies as well as a new challenge for you.

First up let me show you this weeks new release.

Don't you just love this little nymphs?

I loved them so much that I created a card and posted it to our design team and then realized that this was a challenge week and I was supposed to use "lace" somewhere on my card. So back to the drawing board I went.

I like how she turned out and now will show you the card I created first before I realized we had a "theme" challenge this week.

For the card above I used this weeks sketch over at Clean and Simple on Sunday.

Please stop over at the ADFD blog and check out what the rest of the design team created with this weeks "lace" challenge.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

resolutions and exciting news

Every New Year's Eve I make several resolutions and this years included losing weight by staying on weight watchers. Well that has been an up and down, day by day journey for me. So far I have lost about 69 pounds and struggle each day but am determined to do this not to be a thin person as that is not me, but to be a healthier version of me.

So then I chose my One little word which is "persevere" which is what I have been doing for a little over 14 months.

My next resolution was to get published. I am not a person who likes NO or rejection so usually stay away from things that have only yes or no responses. 

Well last January Tammy who is the owner and illustrator of A Day for Daisies asked if we (the design team) would like to submit cards for a publication she would be in. I bit the bullet and decided to submit a card to see if it would be accepted and it was.

Yesterday my friend Chrissie over in the UK picked up the magazine for me and scanned the page my card was on and sent it to me. To say I am over the moon excited would be an understatement. 

Here is the page from the magazine. My card is on the top.

Bad news is that they gave me a new last name. They have it as Eckland. I am used to people messing up the name and hopefully next time I get published they will get it right.

Here is the cover of the magazine. My friends Arielle and Kadie got the cover. I am super excited for them as they are so talented and inspire me every week over at A Day for Daisies.

Stop over at the A Day for Daisies blog and congratulate them both.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

Tuesday and a little BLD

I wanted to share a quick card that I made this morning using this weeks sketch over at Sweet Sunday. Karen has the greatest sketches and I am always inspired by her cards.

I used one of Lori Boyd's images from the March release called Lollipop Cora. Papers are by My Minds Eye from Kate & Co., 'Oxford Lane' collection.

Here is that awesome sketch!

I spent yesterday with Micah while his Mom and Dad were at work and he took me on a little tour of the neighborhood. He got me to the park and back home.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

JOY

Once again Lesley has an amazing sketch for us at Merry Monday. I must admit this one had me stumped just a little bit.

I have once again used papers from the 'snowy day' collection by Crate Paper along with stamps by The Alley Way Stamps 'jolly holiday', stickers by Simple Stories, and snowflakes by A Muse.

If you have been following my blog all month you will notice that I have been using the same papers and embellishments all month for my Merry Monday post. I just love the colors in this collection.

Make sure and stop over at the blog and check out what the rest of the design team along with our guest designer have created.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me.

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

friend

While I was waiting for Cassie and Micah to get here today I created a card using this weeks sketch over at Retro Sketches.

I used a couple of my favorite stamp sets by PTI along with paper by My Minds Eye from the Kate & me collection "Cambridge Court". I added some of my wrinkle ribbon too.

After getting over 16" of snow within a time frame of 5 days spring has finally arrived here in Minnesota and I am loving it. I was so happy to pull out my flip flops finally. This Okie likes to wear flip flops when shoes are required, otherwise it is barefoot for me.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~

hello

I haven't done the Fab Friday sketch in a long time so when I saw this weeks sketch I just knew that I had to play along.

For my card I used papers by My Minds Eye from the Kate & Co. collection called 'cambridge court'. Great colors, don't you think? I also used my favorite embellishment these days, enamel dots and some stickers by Cosmo Cricket. The butterfly was cut with my Cameo.

Today is also my nephew Adrian's (aka Ace) 3rd birthday so I just have to share a picture of him with you.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today it really means a lot to me. 

 ~ hugs Sherry ~