Wonderfully Sad Weekend

The dance recital went very well. Gabi did a fantastic job. I was so proud of her, and excited to watch her perform stuff she's been working on all year. She did 3 shows, and 8 routines. I wasn't able to get photos of all her costumes because in the third show they were all back to back quick changes. No time for photos. These photos are of her in the Swan Lake Ballet. Her class was the Russians. Her lime green outfit was her baton outfit. And the purple and black outfit was one of her group production pieces.
Paul's Mom and Step-Dad were able to come watch this year. This was the first time they were able to see her perform.

Than it was sad ending for us, because her favorite dance instructor is leaving the studio. Gabi's taking classes with her for 5 years, and they have such a sweet bond. She always makes her feel so special, and she does that with so many of the girls. She brought the studio to tears when the students had to say good bye. Gabi advoided all of that after the end of the show, but I took her by the hand before we left and told she knew what we had to do. Than she just burst into tears. Mrs. Chrissy just picked her up and gave her the longest hug and they both just cried. Brings tears to my eyes thinking about the gentle exchange between the two knowing the two just bring smiles to each other when they have class together. Than poor Gabi cried the whole way home, which was a good 45 minutes away. As a parent, I'm touched with how wonderful she made my child feel every time she came to class. I'm so grateful she had the time with Mrs. Chrissy that she had, and I'm so sad for Gabi that she won't get that any more with her. She has some sons Gabi's age, so I'm wishfully thinking maybe they'll meet and fall head of heals and get married later in life. Than she would have the perfect mother in law!

Just Magnolia Sketch

Took a break after getting the rest of the house ready for company to make a card. I had to run to get Gabi to her dance recital practice, and we just got in. Paul and his parents are at dinner. I did the Just Magnolia challenge. I just got my very own Magnolia stamps. Picked up three! Man, now, I wonder why I waited so long to buy some! Anyhow, my company just made it here, so I have to go.

Supplies: nesties, copics, primas, sentiment by Hero's Art, Basic Grey paper, SU and PTI cardstocks, stickles.

Not sure I"ll be posting over the weekend. Might be able to show a few things to my MIL, who is getting into stamping. Or I might be able to show a few photos of Gabi.

Charming Willow

Man, love this card! This was my favorite image from the Summer Kit, but I kept picturing her sitting by water with those cute toes. Than I found a dock stamp on 7Kidscollege and had to wait for it to get back in stock! I think they make the perfect pair! I wasn't really sure how to color the water with the copics. I should blurf around and see if I find other examples coloring water. The WOJ challenge this week was to use a charm on the card. I added some stickles to the cherries. The paper is K and Co Wild Raspberry, and I think it's PTI blue cardstock. The brown is close to cocoa. Thanks for looking!

Other supplies:nesties, EK punch, scrappers floss, copics: skin-E000, E00, R20, E11, dress-B02, BG01BG05, R37, YG03. R00, hair-Y06, Y15, Y08, dock-E71, E77, water-B00, G00, 0

Adorable Bikini Life

Had a few moments while Trey and Dad are at All Star practice. Grabbed a set I just had come in this week, Amy R's Beach sentiments, and one of the new CC stamps. I found this darling bag of cute bikini buttons, and had to grab them! How cute are the buttons?! Works so perfectly with my image! I found the paper at Michael's, but can't remember the name. I'm getting a little better with the angles. I wonder how people cut them. I taped it down, and than cut them. Not sure if that's the best way or not. Any tips on that? Since it was Amy R's sentiments, I did her sketch challenge.

Supplies: Nesties, stickles, gems from stash, copics, Old Olive cardstock.

Copics-hair E35, E33, skin-Eooo, E11, R20, Eoo, bathing suit-R17, Y38, YR23.

Card Making Skills!

I put some card making skills to good use today! Gabi has a jazz/hip hop routine and we had to decorate a black hat that was part of her costume. She's a total bling gal, but aren't we all? So, I found these cool flat gems at Michaels in the colors of her costume. I than pulled out my crystal effects, and glued them down-in a pattern too! I actually laid them out before I glued them down! I had thought process! This was my first time decorating clothing with gems, and it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself! Than I layered up the white part with fine glitter! Thinking dazzling dust technique! Resulting in a lovely blinged up hat for my hip hopping girl! Coarse, I don't think bling and hip hop go arm in arm, but hey, it matches Gabi's personality! She posed for a quick, awful quality photo to show off what I accomplished today, instead of a card! Hoping tomorrow is a card, but just found out my in laws are coming in town a day sooner than I expected for the recital, and hubby's birthday is tomorrow!

Midnight Nellie

A little later than I planned to post today's Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. Busy day today! Today's sketch was very different from what I would normally do. I'm a straight angle type of gal, so it was a lot of fun for me to try because it was really out of the box for me. I loved the framing part of the sketch. Something else I've never tried before! So, you should really check it out! On top of that, I had some fun mail today from Debbie. Debbie is new to blogging, so you should check out her blog. But she sent me some Gorjuss girl images! My, they are fun to color! Thank you so much for the images, Debbie! I grabbed this cutie, because she fit in a box perfectly, and that was what was in the sketch. I used Basic Grey's Sultry, SU Pixie Pink, SU Choco-chip ink, stickles, gems, nesties, and copics.

Copics: Hair-E31. E37, E47, dress-RV34, Rv21, skin-E000, E93, E21 tights-YG63. RV34, outline-YG91

I heart Mojo Monday

It's Mojo Monday, and what a fun layout today! I'm totally addicted to these sketch challenges now! I made this card for Gabi's dance instructor. She told me Sat she wasn't returning after the recital next weekend. I was crushed! This is Gabi's favorite teacher, and they have such a special bond. She's been teaching Gabi since she was 5. So, big change for us! We love the other ladies at the studio, but this one was just super special to Gabi. I went with pink and black, because of the studio colors. This is a sweet set from TAC called Dear Friend. I thought the sentiment was too perfect for Gabi to give her. I paper pieced her top.

Other supplies: Nesties, dew drops, flowers, charm, SU scallop punch, one inch punch, scrappers floss, stickles, shimmerz, copics.

Copics:0, C5, C3, Y02, Y08YG63, G28, R20, R32, Eooo, E11, Rv02, Rv10, E93.